China, Hong Kong and Foreign Interference

Toronto Star: Critics are hammering David Johnston, but his most serious wounds are self-inflicted

Fourth, Johnston’s inability or unwillingness to provide clear answers may lead people to believe he did not do his due diligence. Under questioning from NDP Vancouver East MP Jenny Kwan, Johnston would not say whether he had inquired into why an early version of an intelligence memo dealing into Chinese attempts to interfere in a Liberal party nomination race was changed.

Last month, Johnston concluded there were no examples of the prime minister or his ministers knowingly or negligently failing to act on intelligence or recommendations related to foreign interference. Now, the special rapporteur wants to move on to self-assigned public hearings next month, hoping to answer questions of how foreign interference affects Canadians and how it gets detected and deterred, with an eye toward strengthening Canada’s capacity.

 

PROC#80 Special Rapporteur David Johnston

“In the report, Mr. Johnston, you concluded that it was reasonable for the Prime Minister to take no action, even though in your own report you cited that there were irregularities and that there was well-founded suspicion.

From my perspective, I don't know how you can square that circle and how you can come to that conclusion when there was well-founded suspicion, and yet no action was taken. The common refrain from the report seems to be that no recommendations were made, so none were taken and none were ignored. Somehow, the notion is to say “I see no evil, I know no evil, so therefore there is no evil”, but in reality, there is much more and it's much deeper than what is going on.

My question, then, is this: Can Mr. Johnston explain if CSIS looked into nomination processes?“

Global News: ‘I will not bend’: B.C. MP Jenny Kwan says she won’t allow China to erase history

I hope those of us outside of Hong Kong and China would find the courage to speak up and let the people of Hong Kong know we stand with them and that our voice is an extension of their voice,” Kwan said.
She acknowledged that there’s a risk to continuing to speak out while she is being targeted by Beijing.
“People might distance themselves from me or they’re worried what implications this has and how it could affect them,” Kwan said.

“Those are definitely real concerns, but I cannot allow for anything to deter me from doing this work. If I’m afraid to speak up, what does that mean for everyday people?”

Globe: NDP MP informed she is being targeted by China as party renews call for inquiry

“The reason why I’m being targeted is because of my activism,” she said. “Coming out of this briefing it is more clear than ever that I will not be intimidated, that I will not be silenced in any way.”

Ms. Kwan said she could not disclose specific details provided by CSIS on how China tried intimidate her, but said the efforts date back as far as 2019. The Vancouver MP has been a strong critic of China’s 2020 effort to silence opposition and dissent in in Hong Kong, where she was born, as well as Beijing’s brutal treatment of Muslim Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang province.

Ms. Kwan said this revelation is all the more reason for a public inquiry, not just a probe by Mr. Johnston.
“I call on the government to do what is right, and what is just, and that is: We need a national public inquiry,” Ms. Kwan said. “It is not just for the protection of people like me, who is a member of Parliament, but it is also people who face those dangers every day. And they need protection and they need the government to be on their side.”

Ms. Kwan expressed dismay that she only found out years later that the Chinese government had sought to interfere with her role as MP. The government agreed to provide briefings to MPs who were targets of China as a result of national-security leaks to The Globe and Mail about the effort to intimidate Mr. Chong and his family in Hong Kong.

CBC: Politicians allegedly targeted by foreign interference 'disappointed' in Johnston's report

NDP MP Jenny Kwan also expressed disappointment in Johnston's decision not to recommend a public inquiry.

"I think there are a lot of unanswered questions that we're still waiting for," Kwan said.
Unlike Chiu, Kwan said she was able to meet with Johnston, but only because NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh invited her to join him in his meeting with the special rapporteur.

Kwan said she was also contacted by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) after the federal government expelled a Chinese diplomat for allegedly targeting the family of Conservative MP Michael Chong.

NEWS RELEASE: Liberals vote against an NDP motion calling for an independent public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections

“It is unsettling that Justin Trudeau is resisting launching a public inquiry into foreign interference in our democracy,” said Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. “With allegations mounting that both Conservative and Liberal candidates may have been involved in foreign interference schemes, Canadians expect transparency and action to restore their confidence in our election process. It’s inconceivable that the Prime Minister is denying people the transparency they deserve from their elected officials.”

New Democrats have been pushing for an independent public inquiry into foreign interference for weeks. Singh says this is the only responsible way to get answers for Canadians.

REALITY CHECK: NDP forces a vote for a public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in elections

The House of Commons will vote today on a NDP concurrence motion, brought forawrd by NDP MP Peter Julian, on the 25th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, calling on the government "to launch a national public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in Canada's democratic system, including, but not limited to, allegations of interference in general elections by foreign governments".

This motion, originally scheduled to be voted on last Tuesday, March 21, was blocked by the Conservatives.

This move by the Conservative Party raises many questions about their genuine desire to see a public, independent and transparent inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in our democratic process.

Reality check: NDP forces a vote for a public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in elections

The House of Commons will vote today on a NDP concurrence motion, brought forawrd by NDP MP Peter Julian, on the 25th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, calling on the government "to launch a national public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in Canada's democratic system, including, but not limited to, allegations of interference in general elections by foreign governments".

This motion, originally scheduled to be voted on last Tuesday, March 21, was blocked by the Conservatives.

MEDIA RELEASE: Conservative block an important vote for a public inquiry into foreign interference

OTTAWA — On Tuesday, Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives blocked an important vote for a motion calling on a public inquiry into foreign interference. The motion was supposed to be moved in the House of Commons this morning but the Conservatives shut it down, proving that they’re not interested in getting results for Canadians.

New Democrats want the inquiry to call ministers, former ministers, chiefs of staff to the prime minister and to the leader of the official opposition during the 2019 and 2021 federal election campaigns as well as both parties’ campaign directors so that Canadians have the answers they need and confidence in their institutions moving forward.

Canadian Press: 'Worse than an animal': Mother enraged as killer claims Amanda Zhao might be alive

Yang told The Canadian Press that Li's claims about her daughter left her shaking with “extreme shock and anger.” She was also appalled by his claim to be a victim of persecution.

The 38-year-old, using the name Leo Jiaming Li, is petitioning New Zealand's government for asylum, saying in a submission to the country's parliament that he and his “family from Tibet” had been tortured and harassed by China's Communist government.  His case represented a “touchstone of democracy,” he wrote on the petition, which received 1,315 signatures and was referred to the government last week.