RCMP says it has shut down 'illegal police activity' connected to alleged Chinese 'police stations'
The RCMP says it has "shut down illegal police activity in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia" connect‐ ed to so-called Chinese "po‐ lice stations" — but it hasn't said whether it has made any arrests.
In April, Public Safety Min‐ ister Marco Mendicino told a parliamentary committee the federal police service had tak‐ en decisive action to close down the alleged stations.
According to the Spainbased human rights watch‐ dog group Safeguard Defend‐ ers, more than 100 such facili‐ ties exist worldwide in more than 50 countries.
Safeguard Defenders claims the stations serve to monitor Chinese nationals and persuade those suspect‐ ed of committing crimes to re‐ turn to China to face prosecu‐ tion.
The Chinese embassy de‐ nies those claims, saying the stations are meant to provide Chinese nationals with assis‐ tance with things like renew‐ ing driver's licences.
The RCMP initially report‐ ed it was probing alleged "po‐ lice stations" in the Greater Toronto Area last fall. In midMarch, it announced it was al‐ so looking into reports of sta‐ tions operating in Vancouver and investigating two Mon‐ treal-area groups.
Service a la Famille Chi‐ noise du Grand Montreal and Centre Sino-Quebec de la Rive-Sud, which reportedly have served as resource cen‐ tres for members of the Chi‐ nese community for decades, said they have co-operated with the RCMP's investigation and no police action has been taken against them.
In a statement to CBC News, the RCMP said that some of the activity it's investigating "is occurring at locations where other legiti‐ mate services to the Chinese Canadian Community are be‐ ing offered."
On Thursday, the prime minister's national security and intelligence adviser Jody Thomas was questioned about the alleged stations while speaking before the standing committee on pro‐ cedure and House affairs (PROC).
"You're the national securi‐ ty adviser. How many of these police stations are still operating in Canada? Can you tell us?" asked Conservative MP Blaine Calkins. "There [are] continual investigations by the RCMP into the police sta‐ tions," said Thomas.
"We are aware of two in Montreal and work is being done to ensure that they cease to operate."
Thomas said Canadian citi‐ zens are often staffing the stations — in some cases un‐ wittingly or under duress. "The tools used by the RCMP to shut down the police sta‐ tions, reduce their impact, re‐ duce their credibility, is differ‐ ent in every situation, in every scenario," said Thomas.
"There would be value in our ability to arrest people for them and those investiga‐ tions are underway by the RCMP." The RCMP said it con‐ tinues to investigate "transna‐ tional repression activity, and those responsible for transna‐ tional repression, to ensure Chinese and other Canadians are safe from foreign influ‐ ence."