Report From Parliament Hill

Eric Melillo, MP, Kenora Riding

Dear Constituents

Recently, the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference released its initial report, confirming the long-standing concerns Conservatives have had.
The Commissioner confirmed that “interference occurred in the last two general elections,” that it impacted those elections and “the right of Canadians to have their electoral processes and democratic institutions free from covert influence.”
In looking more closely at examples of Beijing’s interference, the Commissioner also confirmed that foreign interference “diminished the ability of some voters to cast an informed vote.” While the report also recognizes there was no impact that would have changed the overall result of our elections, the Commissioner states she could not rule out that it affected results at the riding level.
For the sake of our democracy, the government cannot continue to dismiss and minimize the interference which did occur.
The Commissioner highlights that there were strong indications of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) interference which could have affected who was elected to Parliament in several electoral districts, in favour of the PRC’s preferred candidate.
As Canadians judge the actions of the government and its failure to prevent this interference, we must consider the Commissioner’s conclusion that the interference which was allowed to occur undermined public confidence in our elections.
She notes the risk of foreign interference in our elections will increase as long as the government fails to take “sufficient protective measures to guard against it.”
As we await the second phase and final conclusions of the Inquiry, Conservatives will continue to hold the government accountable and work to ensure Canadians learn the truth of Beijing’s interference that the government has sought to hide.
Only a Common Sense Conservative government will secure our democracy, protect our people, and stand up to hostile foreign regimes like the one in Beijing.
Working for You 
If you’re planning to be in Ottawa and are interested in attending Question Period or taking a tour of Parliament, please let me know and my office can help reserve Question Period and tour tickets. 
As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, please call me at 807-223-2182 (Dryden) or 807-468-2170 (Kenora) or email me at eric.melillo@parl.gc.ca.
Sincerely,
Eric Melillo
Member of Parliament
Kenora Riding