MISSISSAUGA, ONT.—Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called the Liberal government’s proposed legislation to counter foreign interference “a step in the right direction” but said that more must be done on this issue, including addressing the issue of Chinese police stations in Canada.
In early May, the government introduced
Bill C-70, which introduces a foreign agent registry and other measures meant to curb foreign interference in Canada. The Conservatives have supported the bill, and are asking for its quick passage.
In a press conference in Mississauga on May 31, Mr. Poilievre said the proposed legislation is “a decent bill,” and will allow authorities to track anyone paid by a foreign power to interfere with Canada’s institutions and protect against interference from hostile regimes such as Beijing’s. However, he said more action is needed.
“I don’t think it’s enough,” Mr. Poilievre said. He said the country needs a stronger intelligence apparatus, and the RCMP should take more decisive action.
“We need, frankly, new leadership at the RCMP so that they can shut down the Beijing-controlled police stations on Canadian soil.”
Beijing’s operation of overseas clandestine police stations came to light in 2022, following reports by the Spain-based human rights NGO Safeguard Defenders. It identified 102 secret Chinese police stations in 53 countries, including several in Toronto and Vancouver. The RCMP later announced investigations into two organizations in the Montreal region suspected of hosting these outposts. While U.S. authorities have
made arrests and laid charges related to a secret police station in New York City, no arrests have been made in Canada so far.
Additionally, Mr. Poilievre reiterated his
previous pledge to ban Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and list it as a “banned terrorist organization.”
Expedite Bill’s Passage
Mr. Poilievre noted the Conservatives’ willingness to work with the Liberals in fast-tracking Bill C-70.
The NDP have
opposed the Tories’ motion for fast-tracking passage by June 12, accusing the Conservatives of acting in “bad faith” by introducing terms that had not been previously agreed upon. Tory House Leader Andrew Scheer suggested continuing the discussions “off-line” to understand NDP’s objections to passing the bill by a set date. NDP House leader Peter Julian then proposed a motion nearly identical to the one introduced by the Tories save for the deadline and some of the clauses. His motion did not receive unanimous consent.
Despite disagreements, Bill C-70 passed second reading and proceeded to the public safety committee for study. The committee convened its first meeting on May 30 with representatives from the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Justice, and CSIS.
Conservative MP Larry Brock, who joined Mr. Poilievre at the May 31 press conference, expressed concerns about the timeline for implementing Bill C-70’s foreign influence registry, questioning whether the tool would be in place before the next election. He cited officials from the Department of Public Safety, who
testified before the House of Commons public safety committee on May 30, saying that upon passing the legislation, it would take an additional year for the registry to become operational.
Mr. Brock also referenced Foreign Interference Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue’s
findings that although foreign interference didn’t change the overall outcome of the 2019 and 2021 election, it still “impacted the overall election ecosystem.” Ms. Hogue has been tasked with investigating allegations of Beijing’s and other foreign powers’ potential meddling in the two federal elections and released her preliminary findings in a May 3
interim report.
“While the [election] results—the ultimate results—would not have been impacted, there’s no discounting that ridings have been heavily influenced by foreign interference,” Mr. Brock said. “We want to give the tools to our security agents so that they can properly combat this.”
Noé Chartier contributed to this report.
