PM’s ex-aide says Ottawa’s approach to classified intel ‘particularly weak’

OTTAWA — A former top adviser to the prime minister said Thursday that a memo warning about Beijing’s alleged targeting of Conservative MP Michael Chong was produced after he retired — but he was aware of issues in the way intelligence is handled.

Vincent Rigby continues to call for a full review of Canada’s national-security system to respond to ongoing concerns over how authorities are dealing with foreign interference.

He made the comments at a meeting of a parliamentary committee investigating allegations that MPs were targeted by foreign interference.

His testimony came after the release of watchdog David Johnston’s first report last month, which found serious issues with the way the government handles confidential information.

Former public safety minister Bill Blair, who is now the minister of emergency preparedness, blamed the Canadian Security Intelligence Service last week for the fact he did not receive the July 2021 classified memo about Chong.

“The director determined this was not information the minister needed to know,” Blair said.

David Vigneault, the head of CSIS, is scheduled to appear before the committee next Tuesday.

Rigby said that during his tenure, he was concerned about intelligence being appropriately followed up on, but he said he couldn’t speak to what specifically happened with Blair’s office or the memo.

“The July 2021 report and the targeting of Mr. Chong and other individual MPs was produced and distributed after my departure. But I am not surprised this intelligence was not raised to the political level,” he said.

“This is where the system is particularly weak.”

Current adviser Jody Thomas said last week that the memo was provided to her interim predecessor David Morrison in August 2021.

Morrison is now the deputy minister of Global Affairs Canada. A statement from that department said he had been on medical leave between mid-July and early August of 2021.

“Mr. Morrison does not recall having received any written material regarding threats to MPs during his time as [national security and intelligence adviser]. He also does not recall any oral briefings or discussions on the issue.”

The Privy Council Office said that Mike MacDonald, who is currently an assistant secretary to the cabinet for security and intelligence, replaced Morrison temporarily between July 16 and Aug. 3, 2021.

“While the NSIA’s office regularly receives intelligence and information from security partners, Mr. MacDonald does not recall having seen any material regarding threats to MPs during this time,” its statement said.

“As a result, no material describing any such threats was briefed to [the Prime Minister’s Office].”