‘I Am a Loyal Canadian,’ Says Minister Ng, Dismissing Interference Allegations

Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development of Canada Mary Ng speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, on Oct. 1, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

International Trade Minister Mary Ng is dismissing allegations made against her regarding Chinese interference.

“I want to tell Canadians that I am a loyal Canadian,” Ng told reporters before entering Parliament Hill on Oct. 31.

Ng made the comments after Independent MP Kevin Vuong held a press conference with investigative journalist Sam Cooper on Oct. 28. Cooper said intelligence sources he has spoken to identified Ng as having “unwittingly” received backing from China in a previous election. The Epoch Times has not seen documents or spoken to the sources related to this allegation.

Cooper, a former Global News reporter, was the first to report in November 2022 when he was still with the outlet on leaked bombshell intelligence about Beijing’s meddling in Canada’s democracy. He reported that Beijing had funded a “clandestine network of at least 11 federal candidates running in the 2019 election.”

It was later confirmed by the Foreign Interference Commission that the Canadian government is in possession of similar intelligence, likely originating from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

“Reporting indicated that 11 political candidates and 13 political staff members were assessed to be implicated in or impacted by” a “group of known and suspected People’s Republic of China (PRC)-related threat actors” in the 2019 election, says a summary of government intelligence entered as evidence for the commission.

The summary adds that “some of these individuals appeared willing to cooperate” in the foreign interference activities while others “appeared to be unaware” given the clandestine nature of the activities.

During the press conference on Oct. 28, Cooper said that according to three national security sources, “Liberal cabinet minister Mary Ng was identified in CSIS investigations as one of the 11 Toronto-area candidates clandestinely supported by Chinese consulate and United Front influence networks in the 2019 election.”

The United Front Work Department is a key organ of the Chinese Communist Party in conducting foreign interference.

Cooper added that CSIS assessed Ng was “unwittingly implicated in the interference network.” He also alleged that CSIS was concerned about her staff members providing information to the Chinese consulate.

Speaking to reporters when asked about the allegations, Ng said she is “absolutely appalled.”

“I categorically reject anything that they have put out and I think my record of serving Canada stands clear,” she said.

“I’m a cabinet minister that has been fully vetted by the security apparatus ... so I categorically reject any of this. And it’s irresponsible for people to be putting out there, insinuating, and slagging my personal reputation.”