By Mark Bonokoski
The RCMP, its legend being always getting its man, is today on a “shoot the messenger” mission — as in who leaked classified information alleging foreign election interference by China.
“The RCMP has initiated an investigation into violations of the Security of Information Act (SOIA) associated with recent media reports,” said a spokesperson for the federal police force in a Monday statement.
“This investigation is not focused on any one security agency. As the RCMP is investigating these incidents, there will be no further comment on this matter at this time,” said the RCMP’s Robin Percival.
Formerly known as Canada’s Official Secrets Act, the SOIA legislation outlines both the expectations around federal government employees’ legal obligations for protecting classified operational information, and the punishment for committing offences such as unauthorized disclosure of such intelligence.
So, the RCMP is on the hunt for the federal government employee or employees who leaked the sensitive information on China’s purported interference with the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
