Conservative accuses Liberals of shutting down debate on Winnipeg lab security breach

A Conservative MP is accusing the Liberals of shutting down debate on how two scientists studying deadly viruses at a special lab in Winnipeg were able to work closely and covertly with China — and how the federal  government responded to the national security scandal.

"This is a grave and serious matter," Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic Michael Chong said before the committee got underway Monday morning.

Conservative MPs on the standing committee on access to information, privacy and ethics moved a motion Monday asking for an emergency meeting to discuss their request to study the recent release of federal documents related to the dismissal of two scientists — Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and her husband Keding Cheng — from the National Microbiology Lab.

According to the documents tabled by the federal government, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) concluded Qiu was "intentionally" sharing scientific information and materials with China — potentially putting people's health in jeopardy.

The intelligence service also said it believed Cheng was not truthful in his interviews and had worked with a restricted visitor at PHAC "who is connected to [China's] People's Liberation Army."

When confronted over her ties to China, "Ms. Qiu continued to make blanket denials, feign ignorance or tell outright lies," said a June 2020 CSIS assessment.

The Public Health Agency of Canada ultimately decided to dismiss the pair, stating that  "Dr. Qui represents a very serious and credible danger to the government of Canada."

Last week, Health Minister Mark Holland acknowledged the documents reveal a "lax adherence to security protocols."

Chong, who is not a permanent member of the committee, said the released documents represent the start of an inquiry, not the end.

"Parliament has a job to hold the government accountable," he told the committee. 

The Conservative MPs' motion calls on multiple players to take questions from committee members, including the head of departmental security at PHAC, CSIS director David Vigneault, the prime minister's national security adviser Nathalie Drouin and members of cabinet, including Health Minister Mark Holland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc. 

Before the committee voted on the motion, Liberal MP Iqra Khalid — who was part of an ad hoc committee that worked to release the redacted documents — moved that the meeting be adjourned.

She called it "unacceptable" that the two scientists lied to PHAC about their work in China but said the motion was not within the committee's mandate and did not reach the bar for an emergency meeting. 

"It's not necessary, it's not urgent," she said.