Foreign interference in Canada: Bill Blair questioned [Video]

OTTAWA –

Former public safety minister Bill Blair told a federal inquiry Friday he had no knowledge about delays in approving a spy service warrant in 2021 that may have included references to people in his own government.

A commission of inquiry into foreign interference has heard that it took 54 days for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warrant application to be approved by Blair.

The average turnaround time for such applications is four to 10 days.

Michelle Tessier, CSIS deputy director of operations during the period, told the inquiry in previous testimony there was frustration with the delay, though there was no concern about interference of any sort or pushback from the minister’s office.

In his testimony, Blair — who is now minister of national defence — said the existence of the warrant wasn’t brought to his attention until he saw an entry in his calendar that he would need to …