Michael Chong, a Canadian lawmaker with the Conservative party, has criticized the country’s spy agency for failing to inform him about threats against him and his family from China. The Globe and Mail newspaper reported on Monday that Beijing had sought information about a Canadian lawmaker’s relatives who may be in China, likely in an effort to “make an example of this MP and deter others from taking anti-PRC positions.” While Chong was briefed about foreign interference threat activities, he was not provided with any information about the specific threats to him or his family. Chong believes that the government should have informed him of the CSIS report, and that the diplomat responsible for the “intimidation campaign” should be expelled from Canada.
Chong had been sanctioned by Beijing in 2021 after his motion passed the Canadian parliament declaring China’s treatment of the Uighur Muslim minority as genocide. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that it is “absolutely unacceptable to see anyone being intimidated, especially a member of parliament in this house.” He also stated that he had asked officials to follow up on the report and to “get to the bottom of this.”
Canadian media outlets have published several reports, citing anonymous intelligence sources, alleging that the Chinese government ran schemes to interfere in Canada’s last two elections. However, Beijing has denied the allegations and stated that it has no interest in interfering in Canada’s internal affairs. Trudeau has previously said that China attempted to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 elections but did not change the outcome. An independent special investigator has been appointed to probe the allegations.