(Ottawa) MP Han Dong follows through on his threat and files a defamation lawsuit, claiming $15 million from Global News, some of his reporters, and his parent company, Corus Entertainment, for suggesting he was in the pay of Beijing.
The Toronto lawmaker, who left the Liberal caucus on March 22, announced his intention to go to court after the network published allegations that he advised the Chinese consul in Toronto to delay the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.
“The defendants published malicious, false and defamatory articles and reports about Mr. Dong, which demolished his reputation and hard-earned career, in addition to exposing him and his family to threats and to hateful messages,” reads the statement from his attorney.
In the lawsuit filed Thursday in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, he seeks jointly and severally against each defendant damages of $5 million, aggravated damages of $5 million and punitive damages in the amount of 5 million.
Because they “told the public, directly and by insinuation”, that the now independent elected official “is an agent of the People’s Republic of China”, that he used “illegitimate tactics to win elections”, and that he wanted to keep the two Michaels in prison, it reads.
Global News did not comment directly on Thursday, except to reiterate that the organization is “governed by a rigorous set of journalistic standards and practices,” and that it is “very concerned about the public interest and legal responsibility” for his reporting.
The MP had indicated his intention to sue the media in an interview with the Globe and Mail at the end of March. In the same article, the Toronto daily also claimed to have been made aware of the allegations against Han Dong, then judged that they were not strong enough to be published.
The Global News network reported, on the strength of two confidential security sources, that Han Dong allegedly suggested in 2021 to the Chinese consul general in Toronto, Han Tao, that Beijing wait before releasing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were then arbitrarily detained in China for more than two years.
“As a parliamentarian and as a person, I have never – and never would have – supported or advocated for the violation of the fundamental rights of any Canadian, or anyone, anywhere, period”, defended the principal concerned in his speech of resignation from the liberal caucus.