Conservative MP accuses minister of taking 'no meaningful action' on Chinese 'police stations'
CBC
Conservative MP Michael Cooper and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino faced off Thursday over the government's response to so-called Chinese police stations operating on Canadian soil.
But MPs on the procedure and House affairs committee did not ask the head of Canada's spy agency a single question about Beijing's meddling in Canadian affairs — despite Canadian Security Intelligence Service director David Vigneault appearing as a witness during an hour-long committee hearing on Parliament Hill Thursday.
In a testy exchange, Cooper pressed Mendicino to explain why Canada hasn't arrested any officials or expelled any diplomats tied to the handful of police stations China is believed to have operated in Canada.
Human rights groups have accused the Chinese government of using the stations to threaten and monitor members of the diaspora abroad.
"Not a single Beijing diplomat expelled. Why not, minister?" asked Cooper. "You've taken no meaningful action."
Mendicino told MPs repeatedly the stations are being dealt with.
"The RCMP have taken decisive action to shut down the so-called police stations," he said.
RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme told MPs last month that the police service believes the stations have ceased operating and continues to investigate.
Cooper's questions come a week after U.S. authorities announced they had shut down what they referred to as a Chinese police station in lower Manhattan and charged two American citizens.
These are believed to be the first charges laid anywhere in the world against people suspected of running extra-territorial Chinese police stations.
WATCH | 'This is a government that is very weak on Beijing': Conservative MP
"This is a government that is very weak on Beijing," Cooper put to Mendicino.
"I couldn't disagree more," the minister responded.
After the committee meeting, Mendicino told reporters decisions to expel diplomats are made on a "principle basis."