Intel breakdowns and 'black holes': How foreign interference became a political flashpoint
CBC
Parliament is set to rise for the summer in a few weeks — but the contentious debate over foreign interference is likely to continue.
Despite facing calls to step aside, David Johnston — tasked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau back in March with looking into allegations that China tried to meddle in the past two federal elections — has said he plans to continue his work.
Johnston will be holding a series of public hearings over the summer. He'll face MPs' questions when he appears before a House committee Tuesday morning.
Citing unnamed national security sources, the Globe and Mail and Global News have reported that Beijing has deployed operations meant to influence and interfere in Canadian politics — including the 2019 and 2021 elections.
Those operations allegedly have included attempts to intimidate and influence members of Parliament and fund political candidates, and the operation of so-called "police stations" across Canada meant to intimidate dissidents and members of Chinese diaspora communities.
The Globe also reported that a Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) document stated that Beijing attempted to orchestrate the election of a Liberal minority government in 2021.
In March, Global published a story alleging that former Liberal MP Han Dong — who is currently sitting as an Independent — advised a senior Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that Beijing should hold off on freeing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, the two Canadians being held by China at the time. Dong has refuted those claims and is suing Global for $15 million.
The Globe, citing a top secret document from 2021, also reported last month that the Chinese government was targeting a Canadian MP. An unnamed security source reportedly told the Globe that Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei was allegedly working on efforts to target Conservative MP Michael Chong's family in China.
In his first report, released last month, Johnston disputed Global's reporting on Dong and the Globe's report on Beijing working to ensure a Liberal minority in 2021. He said those media reports misconstrued top-secret intelligence because it lacked a broader context. Johnston also said that additional context could not be shared publicly.
Johnston reported he did find evidence that Chinese officials contemplated taking unspecified action against Chong and sought to build a profile on him, although there's no evidence they threatened either Chong or his family.
CSIS has briefed two other MPs about foreign interference.
Both former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole and NDP MP Jenny Kwan said last week that CSIS has informed them they've been targeted by Beijing.
O'Toole told the House of Commons that CSIS informed him that he has been an ongoing target of a Chinese government campaign of misinformation and "voter suppression" that covered the last federal election campaign.
WATCH | O'Toole rises in House on foreign interference