Chong says it's 'astonishing' that PM never saw reports of foreign threats to an MP
CTV
Conservative MP Michael Chong says it's 'astonishing' to him that the prime minister has not implemented a more effective reporting system between Canada's spy agency and the government in the event of foreign interference attempts and threats from foreign actors on Canadian officials.
Conservative MP Michael Chong says it’s “astonishing” to him that the prime minister has not implemented a more effective reporting system between Canada’s spy agency and the government in the event of foreign interference attempts and threats from foreign actors on Canadian officials.
Chong says he discovered this week after it was reported in the Globe and Mail that he and his family were targeted by a Chinese diplomat in 2021.
He says he was never told about the specific threats at the time, but rather briefed by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) more broadly about foreign interference in Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also said neither he nor the public safety minister at the time knew of the alleged threats against Chong until they were reported in the media this week.
“I find it absolutely astonishing that neither the prime minister nor the public safety minister knew that a Canadian MP was being targeted by (China),” Chong told CTV’s Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview airing Sunday.
Chong said he finds it “alarming” that CSIS shared the relevant information about the reported threats with certain levels of government, namely the Privy Council Office and the national security and intelligence advisor, but not with the prime minister.
“I find that very, very disconcerting that the prime minister would not set up the processes within government, the machinery of government, in such a way as to be informed about these critical threats,” Chong said.
