Sunday, 20th November 2022: In Tunisia, while talking to the media, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denied any Chinese Govt influence on Canadian Elections
In Bali, after Xi Jinping’s public criticism of ‘leakage’ of information about the discussions at the bilateral meeting between him and Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister had said, in a dignified manner, that he himself takes questions from reporters regularly. He had added, “That is what we do in a democracy and it’s a very different system in China.”
On November 7, 2022, Global News carried a news-item by Sam Cooper saying: “Canadian intelligence warned PM Trudeau that China covertly funded 2019 election candidates: Sources”. The Report said that in January 2022, a series of briefings on the issue had been given to the Prime Minister and several cabinet ministers.
The media reports said that besides providing cash support to some candidates, United Front of Chinese Communist Party placed agents into MPs’ offices, tried to corrupt former Canadian officials, and put in place campaigns through planted news in media against politicians, viewed as contrary to China’s interests. There were reports that China had set up Police Stations in its Canadian consulates. These Police Stations were working to ensure that Canadians of Chinese origin followed the Police Station’s instructions, when they voted during the Canadian elections.
The opposition MPs asked the Government to provide a detailed information about the issue. The Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland had limited her response to saying that Canada’s elections were free and fair.
Nov 14, 2022: The Liberals joined the Conservatives, at a House of Commons committee, to ask that the ongoing study of foreign interference be extended to include the news report that Trudeau and other ministers were briefed on Chinese government efforts to “actively influence the 2019 election.”
At Bali, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the President of China Xi Jinping met at a bilateral meeting. A detailed report on the meeting was not released by China or Canada. However, the Prime Minister did tell the correspondents, in response to questions, that he had presented, at the bilateral meeting, the concerns that Canada had.
Though the Prime Minister had not been very explicit about the concerns that Canada had nor did he hold any regular press conference on the issue, Xi Jinping used inappropriate language for Justin Trudeau, when Xi accosted Trudeau at the dinner for the Leaders by the Indonesian President.
On Sunday, 20th November 2022, at the conclusion of his ten-day work at four summits in two continents, the Prime Minister said in Tunisia: “I do not have any information, nor have I been briefed on any federal candidates receiving any money from China.”
The truth about China’s interference in Canadian affairs, the truth about existence of China’s Police Stations in Canada and the veracity of the news-item by Sam Cooper in Global News of 7th November 2022 is yet to be made public.
Note: 1. Please read ‘Ending Chinese Efforts to Influence Canadian Elections’ at www.DiGiNews360.com
2. Please read ‘Michael Chong calls for Ending Chinese Interference in Canada’ at www.DiGiNews360.com