LeBlanc stresses need to balance transparency, security on foreign interference

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says a federal inquiry into foreign interference will have full access to secret documents, even if some of that sensitive information can’t be made public.

LeBlanc told the inquiry today there are obligations under the law to shield certain information from disclosure.

He says a balance must be struck between being transparent about foreign meddling and protecting classified material.

0:43 Foreign interference inquiry begins with question of what information to make public

Federal lawyers say the public release of detailed intelligence about interference threats from China and others would risk exposing vital secrets.

The discussions on national security and confidentiality of information will help set the stage for the commission’s next public hearings, likely to take place at the end of March.

The March hearings will delve into allegations of foreign interference by China, India, Russia and others in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, with a report on these matters due May 3.