China’s Toronto Consulate secretly funded at least 11 CCP-affiliated candidates in Canada’s 2019 federal election.
“The Chinese Communist Party … is using all elements of state power to carry out activities that are a direct threat to our national security and sovereignty,” CSIS stated, as reported by Sam Cooper from Global News.
Cooper said he’s been working on the investigative piece for years. He said CSIS wouldn’t say which candidates were funded, but that the list includes both Liberals and Conservatives.
CSIS also wouldn’t say whether they believe the CCP changed the outcome of the 2019 Canadian federal election.
The alleged influence includes several forms of espionage. On top of the secret funding, Cooper reports that spies have sought to influence policy by working in Member of Parliament’s offices. They’ve also sought to punish Canadian politicians whom the CCP finds threatening.
For example, CPP agents tried to leverage Chinese-linked industries and companies in local MPs areas to somehow pressure the MP.
China’s Toronto consulate also funded CCP agents who worked as Canadian campaign staffers.
Additionally, “several federal candidates from Canada’s 2019 federal election met with China-based United Front Work Department officials, the intelligence alleges, but did not identify the politicians,” Cooper wrote.
Furthermore, allegations from CSIS implicate the CCP in the Canadian House of Commons. In February 2021, Canadian MPs voted on a United Nations resolution to declare the Chinese treatment of the Uyghur people a genocide.
Cooper alleges that CCP spies tried to leverage Chinese-linked local industries and companies to punish politicians who voted in favour of the resolution.
On Monday, a Global News reporter asked Trudeau why Canada hasn’t strengthened espionage laws. Trudeau stuttered several times in his response and claimed that Canada’s election integrity is stronger than ever.
Last month, the RCMP admitted they’re investigating Chinese police stations in Canada, which are allegedly being used to terrorize expats.
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs has already ordered a Chinese police station operating in Dublin to close.
