Group Warns Interference Inquiry About Two Senators With Alleged Beijing Ties

Sen. Victor Oh (L) and Sen. Yuen Pau Woo at a press conference in Montreal on Dec. 1, 2023, in support of two organizations being investigated by the RCMP for allegedly operating as secret Chinese police stations. (Hua Xue/NTD Television)

The Foreign Interference Commission should examine the pro-Beijing stances of two senators and their alleged “close ties” to China, an advocacy group says.

The request by the Chinese Canadian Concern Group on the Chinese Communist Party’s Human Rights Violations, which has intervenor status in the inquiry, was submitted to the public inquiry on June 18.

The Concern Group said while it’s not accusing Sen. Yuen Pau Woo and Sen. Victor Oh of breaking any laws, it has concerns about them when it comes to relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Sen. Woo was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2016 and serves as an Independent. Sen. Oh was appointed by then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2013 and was a Conservative senator until he retired at the mandatory age of 75 on June 10.

“It is our assertion that the perceived exceptionally close ties between the two senators and the Chinese government and its keen supporters warrants a thorough discussion and further study by the Commission,” wrote the Concern Group in its submission.

The group added, however, it is “not accusing the two senators of breaking any laws or betraying Canada.”

The two senators are noted for having made efforts to oppose the introduction of a foreign influence registry.

The Epoch Times reported on Sen. Oh and Sen. Woo’s effort last year in helping organize a demonstration on Parliament Hill against “anti-Chinese sentiment” and the need to push back against the registry. Sen. Woo also drafted a petition opposing the registry.

The Concern Group says Sen. Woo has been “consistently” trying to downplay the issue of foreign interference and has “chosen to stand with PRC and its proxies when Canada and the PRC are in conflict, from the arrest of Meng Wanzhou and the arbitrary detention of the two Michaels to the Uyghur genocide, as well as his advocacy against a public inquiry on foreign influence.”

The group pointed to Sen. Woo’s Feb. 6 submission to the public inquiry, saying he has “attempted to discredit the work of a federal task force (SITE), to the benefit of the People’s Republic of China.”

Sen. Woo has intervenor status at the inquiry, which allows him to make submissions. In the Feb. 6 letter to the commission published on his website, he casts doubts on former Tory MPs Erin O'Toole and Kenny Chiu having been targeted by disinformation campaigns in the 2021 election.

“By assuming that posts on Canada-based Chinese language news outlets are examples of foreign interference without clear evidence of such is damaging to the reputations of the Canada-based news outlets and their users,” he wrote.

In a 2023 briefing for the prime minister, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) concluded that disinformation efforts targeting the Tories were likely linked to Beijing. “The timing of these efforts to align with Conservative polling improvements; the similarities in language with articles published by PRC state media; and the partnership agreements between these Canada based outlets and PRC entities; all suggest that these efforts were orchestrated or directed by the PRC.”

Impact of Interference

Sen. Woo being granted intervenor status at the inquiry has caused backlash from human rights groups.

In his April 15 submission, Sen. Woo argued the criticism was an attempt from human rights advocates to silence views they disagree with by labelling them as examples of foreign interference and to “label Canadians who hold those views as proxies of the Chinese state.”

“This was made worse by the self-privileging of concerns around human rights issues in China over the rights of Canadians with respect to freedom of expression, freedom of association, and due process,” he said.

Sen. Woo also wrote that Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue should come to the conclusion that while foreign interference took place in the last two elections, there was no impact nationally or at the riding level.

“For many participants in the inquiry who believe otherwise, this conclusion will be unwelcome,” he said.

Ms. Hogue, in her interim report issued on May 3, said foreign interference did not impact the overall electoral results, but that it may have impacted results in a “handful of ridings.” She also said the process was tainted since “the ability of some voters to cast an informed vote” was diminished.

“There may not be many so affected, but even a small number should be a concern,” she wrote.

China has been identified by the commission and security bodies such as CSIS as the main perpetrator of foreign interference in Canada.

Ms. Hogue announced on June 17 the commission would examine the issue of parliamentarians colluding with foreign actors.

This followed the public release on June 3 of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) report saying some politicians have “wittingly” cooperated with foreign states.

‘Grateful’

In a statement to The Epoch Times, Sen. Woo said he is “grateful” for the Concern Group drawing attention to his inquiry submissions.

“The Group’s submission only serves to confirm my deep concern about the stigmatization of individuals because of allegations about the views they hold rather than any meaningful evidence of foreign interference,” he said.

Sen. Woo linked the group’s intervention to the “dangers of an overly broad foreign interference law” which cleared the Senate on June 19.

Sen. Oh didn’t respond to a requests for comment. Ahead of his retirement on June 10, he wrote in a Senate magazine article that he is “grateful to my adopted country, the people and our politicians.”

The Liberal government introduced Bill C-70 on May 6, seeking to overhaul national security laws to better counter foreign interference. It involves the implementation of a foreign influence registry and the creation of new offences to the criminal code.

The bill was expedited through the legislature with the cooperation of opposition parties, and was approved by the Senate on June 19.

Officials have said that once the legislation is adopted, it could take one year to establish the foreign influence registry and the related organization and infrastructure.

The next federal election will be held by October 2025.

Andrew Chen contributed to this report.