The Conservatives are calling on the government to come up with a “robust plan” to counter China’s alleged foreign interference in Canada, following a report by Global News that Canadian intelligence officials warned of covert activity by Beijing during the 2019 election campaign.
Global News reported Monday that Canadian intelligence officials have warned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that China has allegedly targeted Canada with an extensive foreign interference campaign that included funding an illegal network of at least 11 federal candidates running in the election in 2019
“Conservatives are extremely concerned by a recent media report that Canada was the target of extensive foreign interference by Beijing in the 2019 election,” Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong wrote in a statement Tuesday.
“It’s long past time for the Trudeau government to come up with a robust plan to counter Beijing’s foreign interference operations here on Canadian soil.”
3:30 China allegedly meddled in the 2019 Canadian election
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Canadian intelligence warns PM Trudeau that China secretly funded 2019 election candidates: Sources
Delivered to the prime minister and several cabinet members in a series of briefings and memos first presented in January, the allegations, reported by Global News, include other detailed examples of Beijing’s efforts to increase its influence and in turn undermine democratic process in Canada, sources I said.
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Based on recent information from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), these efforts are believed to include payments through intermediaries to candidates affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), placing agents in the offices of MPs to influence policy , seeking to co-opt and corrupt former Canadian officials to gain influence in Ottawa, and to mount aggressive campaigns to punish Canadian politicians whom the People’s Republic of China (PRC) views as a threat to its interests.
CSIS told Global News it could not answer some questions for this story. But the agency confirmed it had identified foreign interference by the PRC in Canada, which may have included covert financing to influence election results.
“The Chinese Communist Party … uses all elements of state power to carry out activities that are a direct threat to our national security and sovereignty,” CSIS said.
The briefings did not identify the 2019 candidates. But the alleged election meddling network included members of both the Liberal and Conservative parties, according to sources familiar with the documents.
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Global News was unable to confirm from the sources which cabinet ministers may have been privy to the reports, nor the specific timing of the reported information.
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Chief among the allegations is that CSIS reported that the Chinese Consulate in Toronto directed a large secret transfer of funds to a network of at least 11 federal election candidates and numerous operatives in Beijing who worked as campaign staff.
The funds were allegedly transferred through an Ontario MP and an employee of a federal election candidate. Separate sources familiar with the situation said a CCP proxy group acting as an intermediary transferred about $250,000.
Reports from 2022 said some, but not all, members of the alleged network were conscious branches of the Chinese Communist Party. The intelligence does not conclude whether CSIS believes the network successfully influenced the results of the October 2019 election, sources said.
CSIS can capture its findings through warrants that allow electronic interception of communications between Chinese consulate officials and Canadian politicians and officials.
“It is clear that Beijing has spread disinformation during the 2021 federal election campaign through proxies, which has negatively affected Conservative campaigns in several rallies,” Chong wrote in his statement.
“It is also clear in indictments unsealed in a US court that Beijing’s agents are operating here on Canadian soil, forcing people to return to the People’s Republic of China … by threatening their families in the PRC.”
Read more: Canada faces ‘aggressive games’ from China, others amid meddling report, Trudeau says
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Chong added that the unsealed indictments suggested that China’s agents in the U.S. had “pressured U.S. residents to travel to Toronto for more intensive questioning,” something the Conservative lawmaker said suggested “that the PRC views Canada as a safe haven for more intensive operations’.
“Most recently, reports revealed the existence of three illegal PRC police stations operating in Toronto and surrounding areas,” Chong added.
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“We now find that CSIS has concluded that Beijing corrupted political finance laws and interfered in the 2019 election. But to our knowledge, the government has not expelled anyone for these meddling operations in Canada, nor has anyone been charged in criminal liability.
The biggest victim of these tactics, Chong said, is the Chinese community.
“The Trudeau government must do more to protect the Chinese community from threats from the PRC and protect Canadian democracy,” he said.
4:10 Trudeau warns of Chinese interference: sources
Speaking on Monday, Trudeau told reporters the government had taken “significant steps to strengthen the integrity of our electoral processes and our systems.”
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“We will continue to invest in the fight against election interference, against foreign interference in our democracy and institutions,” Trudeau said.
“Unfortunately, we see countries, state actors from all over the world, whether it’s China or others, continue to play aggressive games with our institutions, with our democracies.”
According to Reuters, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that Canada should stop making remarks that the spokesman said hurt relations with China.
“Relations between countries can only be built on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and China-Canada relations are no exception,” said spokesman Zhao Lijian.
“China does not care about Canada’s internal affairs,” Zhao added.
— with files from Sam Cooper and Aaron D’Andrea of Global News and Reuters
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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