‘I would not use those words’: PM Carney on official’s Indian foreign interference comments

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Prime Minister Mark Carney is putting some distance between himself and comments made by his senior officials that appeared to downplay the ongoing threat of foreign interference and transnational repression from India.

“I would not use those words, first point. Secondly, our approach… is one of vigilance and engagement,” Carney said. “We have made progress, but regardless of the progress that has been made… it is our responsibility to have both aspects.”

In his first media availability of his already week-long international trip, the prime minister faced a series of questions on the issue, after confusion and condemnation arose in Canada because of comments made by senior government officials during a background briefing a day before Carney departed.

The officials, speaking to reporters on a not-for-attribution basis, suggested India was no longer actively interfering, asserted Canada has robust safeguards in place to guard against such activity, and as one official who cannot be named stated: “I really don’t think we’d be taking this trip if we thought these kind of activities were continuing.”

It was this remark that the prime minister indicated he’d have phrased differently, echoing a comment made by his foreign affairs minister a day prior. “The words of the senior official are not words that I personally would use,” Anita Anand told reporters on Monday.

This push back on the unnamed official’s characterization came after Canada’s spy agency CSIS clarified its official posture when it comes to the ongoing nation security risk India poses.

CSIS has previously accused India of being one of the main perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage in Canada, and amid the uncertainty, the agency confirmed that its “threat assessment of the main perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage against Canada has not changed.”

Carney also said Canada “will not tolerate foreign interference, transnational repression by anyone,” and told reporters that the government officials in question will not face consequences.

Hours before the prime minister’s media availability, Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong took direct aim at the Liberals’ lacking accountability as it pertained to these contradictions, calling what was at that point the prime minister’s refusal to take questions “deeply troubling.”