Patrick Brown says Indian diplomat made an 'angry' call to his Conservative campaign chair
Brampton mayor says foreign meddling did not affect outcome of Conservative leadership race
Former Conservative leadership candidate Patrick Brown says an Indian diplomat made an "angry phone call" to his campaign co-chair — Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner — during his 2022 bid to lead the party.
Testifying before the House of Commons public safety committee, Brown said an Indian consul general, a senior member of India's foreign service in Canada, expressed concerns about Brown's use of the term "Sikh nation."
"And the consul general had expressed directly to MP Garner that was something that obviously they didn't agree with, that it could be viewed in nationalistic terms towards the Sikh community," he testified Thursday.
"I think she was the recipient of an angry phone call."
Brown said his campaign decided that he wouldn't use the term anymore and instead would use the Punjabi term Sikh Kaum.
"Do you think it's appropriate for a foreign government to send a message to a sitting MP that you should be changing the language because it's not welcomed by that foreign nation?" asked Liberal MP Jennifer O'Connell .
Brown said Indian diplomats in Canada "have been more robust in their opinions than some of us would be comfortable with."
Brown's committee appearance came just a few days after Radio-Canada reported, based on confidential sources, that agents of the Indian government attempted to derail his 2022 Conservative Party leadership run.
Sources told Radio-Canada that campaign volunteers were pressured not to help the campaign and Brown saw invitations to community events rescinded.
Brown said it "would get back to him" from his supporters that the consulate general was upset about positions he took.
During questioning, O'Connell suggested there is an "implied threat" when the office of a foreign government is reaching out to supporters.
"I think the relationship with the consul generals is important for diaspora communities because of the ability to quickly access visas to visit your home country," Brown replied.
Radio-Canada's story also alleged that Rempel Garner was pressured to withdraw her support for Brown in the 2022 leadership race.
"Indian consulate representatives had approached Michelle, strongly suggesting that it was not in her best interest to continue working alongside Patrick," said a highly-placed source in Brown's campaign.
Rempel Garner categorically denies the allegation.
"I left Mr. Brown's campaign completely of my own volition," she said in a written statement.
"In no instance was I coerced in any manner, by anyone, at any time."
Brown also told the committee that he doesn't believe Rempel Garner was asked to withdraw her support. He said she told him she was leaving his campaign team in June 2022 to consider a bid to replace Jason Kenney as leader of Alberta's United Conservative Party (UCP).
"We had a conference call that would have been four, five, six weeks prior to that where there was concern from MP Garner about some of the language that I was using in gurdwaras and the membership drives," said Brown.
There is no evidence to suggest Pierre Poilievre, now the Conservative leader, was aware of the alleged actions of India's agents. He handily won the 2022 leadership race on the first ballot with 68 per cent of the available points.
"I don't believe foreign intervention affected the final outcome of the Conservative leadership race," Brown told the committee.
RCMP accuses India of supporting violent crimes
The veteran politician initially declined the public safety committee's invitation to testify, and was later summoned.
On Monday, Brown issued a statement on social media about the committee's summons. He said that he had no new evidence to add and the public inquiry on foreign interference was the proper venue to evaluate the allegations.
Brown was disqualified by Conservative Party authorities in July 2022 following allegations of "serious wrongdoing" linked to election financing. At the time, Brown accused the "party establishment" of "wanting to make sure Poilievre did not lose."
The public safety committee has been probing allegations connecting Indian government agents to violent crimes in Canada.
In a rare and stunning move, the head of the RCMP accused agents of the Indian government in October of playing a role in "widespread violence" in Canada, including homicides, and warned that it poses "a serious threat to our public safety."
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said police are also investigating India's alleged interference in Canadian democratic processes.
Earlier this year, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) cited "India's alleged interference in a Conservative Party of Canada leadership race" in its explosive report on foreign interference. A redacted version of that report was made public in June.
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