Former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu says he and others who hold various political convictions in B.C.’s Chinese community are all united on one aim: to end Beijing’s interference in Canada.
“Today, we are united in one voice - we MUST stop #CCPChina’s interference in our home.”
Recent media reports citing leaks from intelligence officials have shown the Chinese Communist Party’s vast interference attempts in Canada’s elections.
Chiu told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times that the Chinese regime has set up extensive infiltration operations in Canada to serve its interests.
“The CCP, or other countries that have ambitions for Canada, understand that they are engaged in an asymmetric game or war—whether it is a propaganda war or an information war, or what we now know [as] infiltration in an open, transparent, and democratic political system,” he said.
Foreign Agent Registry
The most recent allegations of Chinese interference stems from a series of reports by the Globe and Mail and Global News, based on information from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), which illustrated how an influence network involving the Chinese consulate, local associations, and even some Chinese students were employed to elect Beijing-friendly candidates.Chiu, who lost his seat in the B.C. riding of Steveston-Richmond East in the 2021 election, was reportedly a victim of a disinformation campaign set up by pro-Beijing groups during the campaign. Chiu has pushed for the establishment of a foreign agent registry, which he said would compel individuals working on behalf of a foreign entity to register their activities with the government, thus increasing transparency and accountability.
“Leo Housakos’ [bill] has been sidelined in the Senate. No one’s giving it attention. This is a pity,” Chiu said in Cantonese. “This also gives foreign powers, those ambitious states, the impression that Canada is weak among Western democracies.”
When asked what action the government should take in response to the series of reports by the Globe based on leaked top-secret documents from CSIS, Tung also said it’s vital that a foreign agent registry be established.
“There is a public outcry for proposing legislation that requires foreign agents to be registered. This is very important to prevent some spies and infiltration activities in the country,” he said.
“This [legislation] is clearly overdue, and there’s no need to wait any longer. Both the ruling and the opposition parties have proposed it.”
Yiu said no amount of foreign interference in Canada should be tolerated.
“Even if just one MP who cannot be elected because of foreign interference—this is a very serious matter,” he said, pointing to Chiu’s case.