MPS to investigate China’s alleged 2019 election interference
Unclear if PM will speak with Xi Jinping
OTTAWA • MPS decided Monday to look into recent reports that China interfered in the 2019 Canadian election, as it remained unclear whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would raise the issue directly with the Chinese president.
The House of Commons procedure and house affairs committee voted Monday to call as witnesses Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, the prime minister’s national security adviser and officials from Elections Canada and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
Global News first reported on Nov. 7 that intelligence officials had briefed the prime minister on a campaign of foreign interference from China, including funding at least 11 candidates in the 2019 federal election. China also placed agents into MPS’ offices, tried to corrupt former Canadian officials, and put in place “aggressive campaigns” against politicians viewed as contrary to its interests, according to the Global News story. Trudeau and unidentified cabinet members were first briefed in January, Global said.
Trudeau is currently visiting Southeast Asia, and spoke at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, on Monday. Also attending is Chinese President Xi Jinping, though The Canadian Press reported Monday neither Trudeau nor Joly would say whether they’ve asked for a meeting with Xi.
At a press conference Sunday in Cambodia, Trudeau wouldn’t commit to bringing up the issue of foreign interference at a potential meeting.
He didn’t directly answer when asked twice whether he would raise the issue with Xi at the G20.
“As always, I will raise issues of human rights, matters that preoccupy Canadians with any and all leaders that I engage,” Trudeau said.
On Monday, Conservative MP Michael Cooper introduced a motion on the new revelations at the House committee, which already has a more general study on foreign election interference underway. Cooper said “the briefings from CSIS are alarming in terms of the sophisticated campaign by the Chinese Communist regime to subvert Canadian democracy.”
In a speech last week, Joly outlined the broad strokes of Canada’s long-awaited upcoming Indo-pacific strategy, saying that China “is an increasingly disruptive, global power.” Joly also promised to “do more to tackle foreign interference.”
In a question-and-answer session following the speech, Joly said “we won’t let any foreign actor meddle in our democracy, period.”
For three years, Canada’s policy toward China had to navigate around China’s hostage diplomacy, after China imprisoned two Canadians in retaliation for Canada arresting Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on behalf of the United States.
Experts said Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor’s return to Canada in September 2021 allowed Canada to develop a clear and more critical approach to China.
Joly has promised the full Indo-pacific strategy will be released within a month. She said last week Canada will challenge China “when we ought to” and cooperate “when we must.”
Kim Nossal, a professor emeritus of international relations at Queen’s University, said after Joly’s speech that it indicated a change in tone to be more openly critical of China than the Liberal government was when it was first elected, a shift that was recently indicated in recent speeches by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Innovation Minister François-philippe Champagne. “The critical language that we’re seeing now is very much in response to a deterioration in the relationship over a longer period of time,” Nossal said.