Beijing’s attempts to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong have marked federal elected officials from all parties. MPs voted unanimously on Wednesday to refer the allegations to the parliamentary committee looking into foreign interference in Canada.
The parliamentary committee on procedure and House affairs has been looking into multiple allegations of foreign interference since last November. Fifteen meetings have been held to date, hearing testimony from Justin Trudeau’s chief of staff, Katie Telford, his national security adviser, Jody Thomas, and leaders of CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service), the CST (Communications Security Council), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in particular. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, and Public Security, Marco Mendicino, were also summoned.
The Canadian government announced on Monday the expulsion of Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei, based in Toronto, suspected by CSIS of having orchestrated a campaign of intimidation against Mr. Chong and his family in Hong Kong. A CSIS report, quoted by the Globe and Mail, allegedly reported in July 2021 “specific actions targeting Canadian MPs” by the Chinese regime’s intelligence service. A source told the Toronto daily that Mr. Chong was personally targeted.
The MP therefore demanded that this “campaign of intimidation” against him and other MPs — who have not been publicly identified — be referred to the parliamentary committee. What 318 of his colleagues endorsed on Wednesday, without any opponent.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he was not made aware of these CSIS suspicions two years ago. The report in question would have been shared with the Privy Council Office as well as its national security adviser at the time (a position then occupied by two people, on an interim basis).
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