China, Hong Kong and Foreign Interference

Hill Times: ‘Too weak, too vague, too slow’: PM Carney accused of ‘dragging his feet’ on foreign interference in pursuit of economic reset with China

“If this government is looking to move forward with expanding trade with China, they need to do it with eyes wide open and the proper safeguards to protect Canadians,” NDP MP Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, B.C.) told The Hill Times. “They have failed entirely on that.”

Kwan, her party’s public safety and national security critic, accused Prime Minister Mark Carney (Nepean, Ont.) of “dragging his feet” on the implementation of the long-awaited Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act (FITAA), Bill C-70, despite its expedited passage with the support of every opposition party in June 2024.

Additionally, Kwan criticized the lack of registration requirements for individuals linked to foreign-funded institutions or media outlets, “which only serves to undermine confidence and accountability in the system” and leaves “Canadians in the dark.”

In an interview with The Hill Times on Jan. 9, Kwan said the Liberals “can have regulations coming out of your eyeballs, but if there’s no one to enforce them, it doesn’t matter.”

“It’s 2026, and we still have yet to appoint a commissioner,” Kwan said. “Carney is dragging his feet and not taking seriously the damage foreign interference can do to this country.”

While Kwan said that the Carney government is sending the message to Canadians—particularly diaspora communities in the crosshairs of transnational repression—that their concerns about foreign interference are not a priority, she said that same message is also being sent to the perpetrators.

“The Liberals are sending a clear message to those foreign interference actors that this is not a priority for the government, and they can continue to run amok,” Kwan said.

Click image or link to read the full news story - https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2026/01/14/too-weak-too-vague-too-slow-pm-carney-accused-of-dragging-his-feet-on-foreign-influence-registry-while-charging-forward-on-economic-reset-with-china/487569/

Statement: Implementation of Canada's Foreign Interference Law Misses the Mark

STATEMENT BY MP JENNY KWAN:  Implementation of Canada's Foreign Interference Law Misses the Mark

Canada has faced an unprecedented and growing threat from foreign interference. The Hogue Commission has identified China and India as the most aggressive and sophisticated foreign interference actors targeting Canada’s democratic institutions. Instead of responding with urgency, the Carney government is dragging their feet. 

The passage of the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act (the “Act”) was expedited with the cooperation across all parties lines in 2024, yet to date, there is still no Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner or functioning oversight body to implement the legislation.  

Canadians are asked to trust a system that does not yet exist. Political party leaders still have not been properly consulted with the appointment of the Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner as required by law.  The Liberal government knows very well that without the appointment, there is no one to administer and enforce the law.  This continuing delay undermines the Hogue Commission’s findings and further puts Canadian democracy at risk.

Equally troubling is the fact that the government’s proposed regulations do not fully comply with the intention of the Act itself. Parliament was explicit: the Act was meant to apply not only to federal officials, but also to office holders from other orders of government including provincial and municipal governments. Yet the regulations are silent on this point. The Liberals now says other orders of government will “eventually” be included with no timeline.  

In addition, the regulation does not provide clarity on what would constitute an “arrangement”.   This ambiguity creates a chilling effect for legitimate civic engagement while simultaneously giving bad actors room to operate in the shadows.  Canadians are left guessing whether legitimate civic engagement will be penalized — while sophisticated actors are likely to exploit this ambiguity.  This vagueness becomes especially dangerous when it comes to proxy activity. 

The regulations also fail to require individuals to disclose their associations or affiliations with the corporation or organization. In a modern influence environment — where foreign states operate through intermediaries and informal networks, assuming that influence is always direct is willful blindness and does not show a basic standard of situational awareness.

Furthermore, the Carney government has failed to put in place registration requirements for individuals linked to foreign-funded institutions or media outlets even though this was a concern identified by witnesses during the Houge Commission. Without proper disclosure, Canadians are left in the dark which only serves to undermine confidence and accountability in the system. 

The Carney administration has chosen to enact a  weak, partial framework — without a Commissioner, without clarity, and without full coverage. Fines as low as $50. These political decisions send a dangerous message that tackling foreign interference is not taken seriously and not a priority for the Federal government.

Foreign interference is a real and ongoing threat to Canada particularly at a time when Canada is opening up trade relationships internationally. It is not acceptable that Canada’s current legislative response is too weak, too vague, and too slow to meet the moment and act as a legitimate deterrent. 

If Canada is serious about protecting its democracy, it must act now: appoint the Commissioner immediately, address proxy interference head-on and bring the regulations into full alignment with the Act.  Democracy cannot be protected with half-measures. Foreign interference is real.  Canadians deserve action and transparency immediately.

Globe & Mail: Jimmy Lai’s Canadian family, MPs call for his release on humanitarian, health grounds

NDP MP Jenny Kwan, who was born in Hong Kong, said Mr. Lai’s conviction is “another devastating milestone in the systematic dismantling of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong.”

“Mr. Lai is not a criminal – he is a prisoner of conscience whose only ‘crime’ is standing up for democracy, freedom of the press, and the rule of law,” she said in a statement.

Bloc Québécois foreign affairs critic Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe said the guilty verdict was “revolting.”

“The Bloc Québécois demands the immediate release of Mr. Lai and we await the same resolve from Mr. Carney and his government,” he said.

Michael Kovrig urges Canada to press China for Jimmy Lai’s release on health grounds

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Canada condemns the “politically motivated prosecution” of Mr. Lai. She said the government calls for his immediate release.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who raised Mr. Lai’s case at a G7 foreign ministers meeting last month, also called the prosecution of Mr. Lai “politically motivated” and renewed calls for his “immediate release, for all necessary treatment and for full access to independent medical professionals.”

Amnesty International’s China director Sarah Brooks called it “the death knell for press freedom in Hong Kong, where the essential work of journalism has been rebranded as a crime.”

Click image or link to read the news story - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-jimmy-lai-canadian-family-mps-release-humanitarian-health-grounds/

Statement on the conviction of Jimmy Lai

Statement from MP Jenny Kwan on the Conviction of Jimmy Lai

Vancouver East MP Jenny Kwan issued the following statement following the conviction of Hong Kong publisher and democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, ahead of his sentencing:

“The conviction of Jimmy Lai marks yet another devastating milestone in the systematic dismantling of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong. Mr. Lai is not a criminal — he is a prisoner of conscience whose only ‘crime’ is standing up for democracy, freedom of the press, and the rule of law.

At 78 years old, Mr. Lai has spent years in solitary confinement, and his health has reportedly deteriorated significantly. His conviction under politically motivated charges stands in stark contrast to the protections guaranteed under Hong Kong’s Basic Law, Article 27, for freedom of speech, press, and publication, as well as Article 39, which incorporates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) into Hong Kong law. This highlights the grave injustice of a system being used to silence dissent and punish independent journalism.

I once again call for the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai. At a minimum, the Canadian government must urgently work with international partners to secure humanitarian medical release so that Mr. Lai can receive proper care and live out his remaining years with dignity.

Canada has a moral responsibility to speak clearly and act decisively when fundamental human rights are violated. Silence or half-measures only embolden authoritarian regimes and place journalists, activists, and democracy advocates everywhere at greater risk.

The criminalization of dissent and the erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong must not be normalized. Canada must stand firmly on the side of justice, human rights, and those who courageously defend them.”

 

Hill Times Top Story: Lack of foreign interference registry ‘mystifying’ as Canada attempts diplomatic reset with primary culprits, says NDP MP Jenny Kwan

As Prime Minister Mark Carney attempts a diplomatic reset with China and India, his government has yet to name its candidate to oversee the promised foreign interference registry to address the threat of political meddling and transnational repression.

But as public attention shifts toward economic concerns over human rights, NDP MP Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, B.C.) says the federal government must “walk and chew gum at the same time,” and remain focused on protecting Canadians caught in the crosshairs of foreign influence.

“The federal government can’t take its eyes off the need to protect Canadians and our democratic institutions,” said Kwan, her party’s public safety and national security critic, in an interview with The Hill Times. Her comments came as Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand (Oakville East, Ont.) wrapped up travel to India and China for talks with government officials.

Click link to read the news story - https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/10/22/lack-of-foreign-interference-registry-mystifying-as-canada-attempts-diplomatic-reset-with-primary-culprits-says-ndp-mp-jenny-kwan/477880/

Canadian Press: B.C. MP Jenny Kwan urges caution as Canada moves to mend trade relationship with China

 

In 2024, the RCMP publicly accused the Indian government of being involved in targeted acts of intimidation and violence against Canadians. Canada expelled six diplomats and India retaliated with by expelling six Canadian diplomats.

Kwan said the prime minister "would be wise to keep in mind that both of those countries attempted to undermine our Canadian sovereignty with foreign interference activities."

A public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian democratic institutions found that China and India are top perpetrators of foreign meddling in this country.

Kwan said it seems foreign interference has been forgotten since the election. Expanding trade beyond the U.S. is important, she said, but "it has to be in the context of" protecting Canada's sovereignty and democratic institutions.

"We cannot abandon that primary goal," she said.

Click link to read the news story - https://vancouversun.com/news/ndp-mp-urges-caution-canada-mend-trade-relationship-china

CBC Radio: Jenny Kwan on Hong Kong overseas arrest warrants

Hong Kong officials have issued overseas warrants for nineteen people, including Canadians. NDP MP Jenny Kwan has spoken out against previous iterations of the warrants, and she joins us for more on the latest round.

Click link to listen to the interview:
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/audio/9.6848556

The Catholic Register: Pope Leo’s aid sought in freeing Hong Kong activist

A group of parliamentarians was recently thwarted in its efforts to see a motion passed in the House of Commons to grant honorary Canadian citizenship to Jimmy Lai, the prominent Catholic political prisoner jailed for his role in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests. 

Though essentially a symbolic gesture, it was understood to be an important one taken at the outset of the June 15-17 G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta.

The cross-party coalition seeking support for Lai included Liberal MP Judy Sgro, Conservative MPs Tony Baldinelli and Shuvaloy Majumdar, NDP MP Jenny Kwan, Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, Senator Pierre Dalphond and Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne.

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If Pope Leo XIV were to refer to Lai publicly it would be a divergence from papal practice since the Sino-Vatican accord on the appointment of bishops was signed in 2018. Though the late Pope Francis spoke of human rights abuses in Gaza, Sudan and Myanmar, he never spoke of China.

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In an email, a spokesperson for Lai’s defense team told the Register, “The Vatican has historically played a very important role in defending human rights around the world, and it could play a very important role in arguing for Mr. Lai's release.” 

Vancouver Archbishop Emeritus J. Michael Miller was one of 10 Catholic bishops, including Americans Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Bishop Robert Barron, who signed a 2023 petition demanding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region “immediately and unconditionally release” Lai. At the time, Miller told the B.C Catholic, “Mr. Lai is a person of faith who is being silenced and imprisoned for his pro-democracy convictions. Justice demands that we speak up for them and give them a voice.”

VIDEO: Remarks at Free Jimmy Lai Parliamentary Press Conference

June 10, 2025 - Ottawa, ON - MP Jenny Kwan joined Mr. Sebastian Lai, son of imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy leader and publisher Jimmy Lai, members of Jimmy Lai's legal team, and a cross-party group of MPs to speak at an All-Party Parliamentary Press Conference for Jimmy Lai.

As world leaders prepared to gather for the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, MP Jenny Kwan, along with other MPs and Senators from all parties called on Canada’s delegation to the talks to champion freedom for Jimmy Lai, one of the world’s most high-profile political prisoners and a man with close ties to Canada.

Jenny also asked the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in Parliament the previous day: Will Canada grant honorary citizenship to Jimmy Lai? This isn't a private case - it's a human rights issue. The minister must stop hiding behind excuses. It's time for Canada to take a stand. The Minister has the ministerial authority to do so and should act immediately ahead of the G7 Summit.

Globe and Mail: Government told Liberal MP to shelve motion on honorary citizenship for Jimmy Lai

A drive to grant jailed Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai honorary Canadian citizenship is on hold after the Liberal MP spearheading the move was told by her government’s House leader to shelve the motion just before she was about to present it.

The MP, Judy Sgro, had already gained the support of MPs from all parties for a unanimous-consent motion that raised the plight of Mr. Lai, who has been held in solitary confinement for 4½ years.

The motion was seen as a symbolic gesture by Canada to bolster support for Mr. Lai before the G7 leaders’ summit in Alberta this weekend.

Ms. Sgro said she was not given a clear explanation for the government’s move. She said she plans to persevere with the motion.

She was approached by Steven MacKinnon, the Government House Leader, on Wednesday and told that she could not present it.

 

NDP MP Jenny Kwan, who was born in Hong Kong, said Immigration Minister Lena Diab has the power to grant Mr. Lai honorary citizenship and should do so before the G7 summit, when world leaders are gathering.

“She should do it right now and absolutely before the G7,” she said. “The whole idea is to get it in front of the international community.”