Johnston Says Global News’ Allegation Against MP Dong is ‘False’ Due to ‘Misinterpretation’ of Intel

David Johnston, Independent Special Rapporteur on Foreign Interference, appears as a witness at the Procedure and House Affairs Committee in Ottawa on June 6, 2023. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

The intelligence used by Global News to report that MP Han Dong advised the Chinese consulate to keep the two Michaels in detention was “misinterpreted,” Special Rapporteur David Johnston told a committee.

Johnston, who was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March to review foreign interference, published his report on May 23, saying a media allegation against Dong was “false.”

Liberal MP Ruby Sahota asked Johnston to expand on how he made that determination as he testified before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) on June 6.

“The reference I think that Global News had was to an early draft of an understanding of what transpired in a conversation between a member of the PRC [People’s Republic of China] consulate and Mr. Dong,” said Johnston.

“That was subsequently superseded by another interview that indicated the suggestion in the first one, that he had suggested the two Michaels be detained further, was simply a wrong interpretation.”

Global News reported in March that then-Liberal MP Han Dong had “privately advised a senior Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that Beijing should hold off freeing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.” The two were being arbitrarily held in custody in response to Canada detaining Huawei executive Meng Wangzhou at the request of the U.S.

In his report, Johnston addressed the allegation directly, noting there had been “considerable media attention about an alleged transcript of this conversation.” He said he reviewed the “same intelligence report” that was provided to the prime minister on the issue, “which I am advised is the only intelligence that speaks to this issue.”

“The allegation is false. Mr. Dong discussed the ‘two Michaels’ with a PRC official, but did not suggest to the official that the PRC extend their detention,” wrote Johnston.

Johnston’s report and testimony raise questions about the nature of the intelligence, as Johnston wrote about a potential conversation’s “transcript,” but said it was “superseded” by an “interview.” A transcript would point to an intercepted conversation, whereas an interview could relate to information coming from a human source. Unless the interview refers to one conducted with a security official.

Johnston said he has reviewed the only report pertaining to the Dong allegation, but he also told the committee he did not have the ability to review all the intelligence to come the conclusions of his report.

“Am I confident that we saw every bit of information that we would like to have had or perhaps should have had, given the ocean of information? The answer is no,” he said, noting the time constraint of eight weeks between his appointment and the submission of his report.

The Epoch Times contacted the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to find out if Johnston had reviewed all of its holdings on Han Dong.

CSIS didn’t answer directly but said Johnston was “was given completely unrestricted access to review CSIS’s documents on any issue [he] deemed relevant to his mandate, including Han Dong.”

Lawsuit

Dong left the Liberal Party caucus after the allegation surfaced, saying on March 22 he had never advised the consulate to extend the detention of the two Canadians. He said on May 23 Johnston’s report had “vindicated” him.

Dong filed a defamation lawsuit against Global News on April 20, claiming that it “maliciously destroyed” his “hard-earned reputation and career.” The MP has not responded to multiple previous inquiries from The Epoch Times.

Global’s statement of defence filed on June 6 explains the methodology it used for its reports on Beijing’s interference.

The statement repeats information provided in the controversial article that “two separate national security sources alleged that during this discussion Dong suggested that China delay freeing Mr. Korvig and Mr. Spavor as to do otherwise would benefit the opposition Conservative Party of Canada.”

“Where information from a confidential source was reported, that information was confirmed by reference to at least one additional confidential source who was independent from the original source,” says Global’s statement.

‘Irregularities’

While Johnston concluded in his report that Dong had not advocated for the prolonged detention of the two Michaels, he noted that his 2019 party nomination had been affected by “irregularities” linked to the Chinese regime.

“Irregularities were observed with Mr. Dong’s nomination in 2019, and there is well-grounded suspicion that the irregularities were tied to the PRC Consulate in Toronto, with whom Mr. Dong maintains relationships,” wrote Johnston in his report.

The report adds that Trudeau was briefed on the issue but concluded Dong should be kept on the ticket. “This was not an unreasonable conclusion based on the intelligence available to the Prime Minister at the time,” wrote Johnston.

NDP MP Jenny Kwan asked Johnston at the June 6 committee meeting how he could acknowledge the presence of irregularities yet absolve Trudeau who chose to ignore them.

“I don’t know how you can square that circle, and how you can come to that conclusion,” said Kwan.

Kwan asked Johnston if CSIS had looked into the nomination process. The Liberal Party is the only political body that allows non-Canadians to become members and participate in the nomination process.

“I think CSIS has been conscious of the fact that nomination events have followed procedures that would not be the most attractive,” Johnston answered, while premising it’s a difficult area to regulate since it’s governed by the rules of the parties.

“With respect to the nomination meeting, there clearly were strange practices, unusual practices going on.”

Johnston said the irregularities had to do with the “nomination meetings and bussing in of people.”

Johnston’s comment refers to CSIS information reported by Global News to the effect that Chinese international students with fake addresses had allegedly been bussed into the riding and told to vote for Dong or lose their student visas.

Johnston told the committee he didn’t interview Han Dong for his review, saying that he had filed his lawsuit and “we felt that this was something that he should get on with.”

Peter Wilson contributed to this report.