Why didn't Pierre Poilievre get his security clearance?

Why didn't Pierre Poilievre get his security clearance? It all has to do with a law called the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act (NSICOP). NSICOP creates a Committee of Parliamentarians who are given the authority to access information that the government would rather not disclose. The law requires that these Parliamentarians keep the material confidential, and if they disclose it, even in Parliament, they can be subject to criminal penalties with a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.

This law upends centuries of practice in Westminster governments. Normally, Parliamentarians have immunity from prosecution for statements made in Parliament and have since the establishment of responsible government in the United Kingdom. Until now, no Westminster government has contemplated sending a Member of Parliament to jail for what was said in debate in the legislature.

The NSICOP Act changes all of that. It forbids the disclosure of anything "that a department is taking measures to protect." This is incredibly broad and done based on the discretion of the prime minister and cabinet.

There can be no Parliamentary freedom of speech in a system that delegates to the prime minister and cabinet any role in monitoring legislative debate.

That's why the law is being challenged. The challenge was brought by Professor Ryan Alford, and the Canadian Constitution Foundation will be intervening. The hearing will take place November 5-6.