Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was hounded by opposition MPs during Question Period following reports that the Liberal government knew two years ago that a Chinese diplomat in Toronto targetted a Conservative MP.
“Will the prime minister finally stand up for this country and its people against a foreign dictatorship that has been interfering in our land for far too long, yes or no?” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked on Monday.
On Monday, it was revealed by the Globe and Mail that Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei, who was working at the Chinese consulate in Toronto, wanted to target the family of Conservative MP Michael Chong. According to CSIS sources, China’s Ministry of State Security reportedly sought information about Chong’s family, seeking to “make an example of this MP and deter others from taking anti-PRC [People’s Republic of China] positions.”
A document the Globe and Mail obtained also called Beijing the “foremost perpetrator” of foreign interference in Canada, which is seen as a “high-priority target” by the Chinese regime.
Trudeau said Monday that it is “absolutely unacceptable” to see any politician being intimidated by a foreign government, and said he “immediately asked” officials to follow up on the reports. “This is something obviously that we need to take seriously and that’s what we’re doing,” he said, adding that experts will be examining “all the information on this file on what happened, on who was informed, and who was not informed—to make sure that we are following up in an appropriate way.”
Poilievre said the prime minister only took action after the media report came out, and asked if Trudeau would expel Wei from Canada by the end of the day. Trudeau did not respond to the query, instead saying the incident “shouldn’t have happened,” and that the government intends to create a foreign-influence registry.
Trudeau also highlighted the mechanisms his government put in place to protect the country from foreign interference, such as the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians and the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency. Poilievre responded that this was “more administrative and bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo to conceal his inaction.”
During Question Period, members of the New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois called for an independent public inquiry into foreign election interference. NDP MP Peter Julian said the news that China considers Canada a “high-priority target” threatens the safety of MPs, Chinese Canadians, and their families, and questioned when the Liberals would “finally” hold a public inquiry.
New Democrat MP Heather McPherson said the prime minister had shown he does “not understand how much this is damaging our democracy,” and asked why the Liberals would not “bring forward the one thing that will restore trust in our democracy.”
Trudeau responded that a “broad range of experts” have looked into whether an open public inquiry would be the “best tool to restore confidence,” which is why independent special rapporteur David Johnston has been tasked with determining whether one should be held.