Canadian PM to appoint special rapporteur to probe alleged Chinese interference in recent elections

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that an independent special rapporteur will probe alleged Chinese interference in their recent elections.

The appointed investigator will review classified reports about the 2019 and 2021 federal elections and will make recommendations for future contests. Rival political party leaders have called for a public inquiry.

China has denied any election interference, calling the claims purely baseless and defamatory. Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill in Ottawa yesterday, Mr Trudeau said he would ask members of parliament and senators in the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians to begin a new probe of election security.

He added that Canada has long been aware of meddling attempts by China, as well as Iran and Russia.