Dong, Chan Hesitate When Asked if They Believe China Interfered in Canadian Elections

Markham, Ont., Deputy Mayor and former Ontario Liberal cabinet minister Michael Chan appears as a witness at the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, in Ottawa on April 2, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

MP Han Dong and former Ontario cabinet minister Michael Chan, when asked at the foreign interference inquiry whether they believe China interfered in Canada’s federal elections, only responded indirectly or hesitantly after the question was rephrased a number of times.

During his April 2 appearance at the inquiry, Mr. Chan was asked if he agreed with a conclusion by former special rapporteur on foreign interference David Johnston in his May 2023 report that attempts “at foreign interference are ubiquitous, especially from the PRC [People’s Republic of China].”

Mr. Chan didn’t answer the question directly, instead saying that he would “condemn” interference from any country, whether it is “China or India or Iran or Singapore or Korea or Japan that interfere with Canadian election.”

Gib van Ert, counsel for Conservative MP Michael Chong at the inquiry, who had asked the question, rephrased it, asking, “Do you agree with Mr. Johnston, or do you accept his conclusion that PRC is engaged in such interference, or do you say that you don’t believe that’s true?”

Mr. Chan said that, because he didn’t have all the “information in front of” him, he couldn’t answer the question.

The counsel followed up by asking whether the conclusion drawn by Mr. Johnston, since he had access to information others didn’t have, concerned Mr. Chan the way it does many other Canadians.

“Of course,” Mr. Chan replied.

Mr. van Ert posed a similar question to Mr. Dong, who appeared at the inquiry earlier that day, asking him if he believes the PRC is “attempting to interfere in Canadian democracy.”

After remaining silent for a few seconds, Mr. Dong responded: “I’ve seen reports about that. I personally haven’t seen any evidence of it.”

The counsel said the allegations were so serious that a public inquiry was formed to examine the issue. Mr. Dong then said that “it’s possible,” in apparent reference to Mr. van Ert’s original question.

Amid media reports about his interactions with the Chinese Consulate, Mr. Dong resigned from the Liberal caucus last year and now sits as an Independent. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Mr. Chan, who is currently deputy mayor of Markham, Ont., has also denied claims in media reports that cited intelligence sources about his alleged ties to the Chinese Consulate.

Neither Mr. Dong nor Mr. Chan has responded to repeated requests by The Epoch Times for comment.

Independent MP Han Dong arrives to appear as a witness at the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions in Ottawa on April 2, 2024. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

Meeting With Chinese Officials

During his questioning, Mr. van Ert brought up a Feb. 13, 2023, report by The Globe and Mail about China’s interference efforts. The report, citing anonymous national security sources, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his senior aides were warned that MPs should be cautious when dealing with Mr. Chan due to his “alleged ties” to the Chinese Consulate in Toronto.

It also said the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had seen Mr. Chan meeting Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei, described as a “suspected intelligence actor,” and Zhuang Yaodong, Beijing’s former vice-consul general.

Mr. Zhao was declared persona non grata by Canada in May 2023 for being involved in targeting Conservative MP Mr. Chong and threatening his family members in Hong Kong because of his outspokenness against China’s human rights record.

The Globe said that Mr. Chan held a number of meetings with Mr. Zhao in 2019 and that CSIS described those meetings as “clandestine in nature” and allegedly election-related. Mr. Chan told the inquiry that he “definitely” denies this account.

The public inquiry is looking into allegations of Beijing’s interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Mr. Chan said he was involved in setting up a certification business in Cambodia to facilitate import and export of products in the period between late 2018 and late 2019. For the venture, he had partnered with an individual based in China, as well as local partners in Cambodia, he said.

Since the business involved some “technology from China,” and there was some “Chinese investment” in the project, Mr. Chan said he thought it would be a good idea if he met with the Chinese ambassador in Cambodia. He said he later learned that the ambassador, Wang Wentian, had previously been stationed in Canada, and so he asked then-Deputy Toronto Consul General Zhung (first name not specified) to arrange a meeting with Mr. Wang.

Mr. Chan said that he subsequently met with Mr. Zhung in the winter of 2019 in the Greater Toronto Area, and that Mr. Zhao—the diplomat who was expelled in May 2023—was also present at that meeting.

Mr. Chan said he didn’t know Mr. Zhao would be there. He also said he didn’t discuss election issues during the meeting.

He added that he didn’t see Mr. Zhao again during the period between late 2018 and late 2019. He said he had run into Mr. Zhao at public events “four or five times” over the years.

‘Favour’

Mr. Chan was also asked at the commission whether he feels Chinese officials did him a “favour” in regard to his Cambodia venture.

“You can consider it as a favour,” Mr. Chan said, adding that “it’s very common in international trade or doing business.”

Sarah Teich, counsel for the Human Rights Coalition at the inquiry, asked if he thinks it would be “disloyal” to not acknowledge the favour.

“When someone did you a favour, remember it,” Mr. Chan replied.

After Ms. Teich asked about feeling obligated to return a favour, he said it “depends on what’s being asked.”

Commissioner Justice Marie-Josee Hogue speaks at the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Election Processes and Democratic Institutions, in Ottawa on Feb. 2, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Position on Hong Kong Protests

Mr. Chan was also asked at the inquiry about his stance on protests in Hong Kong from 2019 into mid-2020.

During this period, amid heavy police clampdown, pro-democracy protesters held wide-scale demonstrations in opposition to Beijing’s increased limitation of freedoms in Hong Kong. This included the introduction of a new national security law in July 2020 that stipulates punishments up to life in prison for acts of what the authorities defined as subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. The law also created a security agency in Hong Kong under the direct control of Beijing.

Canada and other Western democracies have denounced the law and the increased suppression in Hong Kong, with Ottawa restricting the export of sensitive goods to the region in response to the police clampdown.

As reported previously by The Epoch Times, Mr. Chan has praised the national security law and spoken against the protesters.

He repeated his position at the inquiry while under questioning by Nando de Luca, counsel for the Conservative Party.

“We need the police to maintain the law and order,” Mr. Chan said.

Mr. de Luca asked if he agreed with how “the government of China dealt with the protesters in Hong Kong between 2019 and 2020.”

“The unrest in Hong Kong is dealt by the policemen of Hong Kong,” Mr. Chan responded.

Mr. de Luca asked if the Hong Kong police acted without the influence of Beijing.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t in Hong Kong police,” Mr. Chan said.