Four months after China waded into Canada’s 2019 general election, the federal government was warned that election interference was “likely to be more persistent and pervasive in future elections.”
The bombshell revelation from Global News comes as the Trudeau Liberals have been dodging questions about election interference following reports that China’s Toronto Consulate secretly funded at least 11 Chinese Communist Party-affiliated candidates in 2019.
The federal government was warned of increasing election interference by the Privy Council Office in February 2020, months after the 2019 vote.
Per Global’s latest report, an unredacted 2020 national security document alleges that Beijing utilized community groups to conceal funds moving between Chinese officials and Canadian members of a 2019 election interference group.
“Community leaders facilitate the clandestine transfer of funds and recruit potential targets,” the Privy Council said.
The document also says China sought to target politicians’ staff, seeking advice for the Chinese consulate on relevant issues.
A largely redacted version of the report was filed last week in Parliament. It said China’s 2019 election interference network was “subtle but effective.”
Former Public Safety Minister Bill Blair acknowledged receiving “certain information” in 2020, but said last week, “I’m not able to share the details of that.”
The federal government says the election outcome was not impacted by interference.
On top of the secret funding, Global 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 pressure the MP.
China’s Toronto consulate also funded CCP agents who worked as Canadian campaign staffers.
The revelation comes as the RCMP admitted it’s investigating Chinese police stations in Canada, which are allegedly being used to terrorize expats.
