Bill Blair Unaware of Delayed CSIS Warrant in Foreign Interference Probe

Former Public Safety Minister claims ignorance of a 54-day delay in approving a critical surveillance warrant involving a Liberal insider.

Bill Blair, now Minister of National Defence, testified that he was unaware of a 54-day delay in signing a CSIS warrant application during his tenure as Public Safety Minister.
The warrant targeted Michael Chan, a former Ontario MPP and influential figure in the Chinese Canadian community, amid concerns of foreign interference.
Blair stated that he only learned of the delay and related foreign interference issues from media reports in 2023, well after his term as Public Safety Minister ended.
CSIS officials expressed frustration over the delay, which typically takes four to ten days, and Blair's former chief of staff was aware of the warrant but did not inform him promptly.
The inquiry is examining the handling of intelligence reports and the potential political implications of the delay, with Blair denying any political considerations in the warrant's approval process.