(Ottawa) The national director of the Liberal Party of Canada (PLC) said Tuesday his party does not believe nomination races are particularly vulnerable to foreign interference, despite irregularities in the nomination of candidate Han Dong in Toronto in 2019.
Azam Ishmael, along with senior officials from the Conservative and New Democratic parties, are testifying this week at the public hearings of the federal commission of inquiry into foreign interference.
Liberal MP Han Dong left the caucus following allegations he willingly participated in Chinese interference and won his seat with Beijing’s help in the 2019 general election.
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Independent MP Han Dong
The now independent MP, who denies these allegations, is due to appear Tuesday afternoon.
The commission is hearing testimony Tuesday about international students arriving by the busload from Seneca College to vote for Mr. Dong at the nomination rally in Toronto’s Don Valley North riding.
The national director of the Liberal Party admitted Tuesday morning that he found the involvement of Seneca College students in this nomination race strange. But he suggested that the PLC’s appointment rules and processes were generally effective in eliminating attempts at interference.