Michael Chan, Han Dong Set to Testify as Foreign Interference Inquiry Resumes

Former Ontario cabinet minister Michael Chan speaks at a rally held to condemn protests in Hong Kong, in Markham, Ont., on Aug. 11, 2019. Yi Ling/The Epoch Times

Former Liberal MP Han Dong and former Ontario cabinet minister Michael Chan, whose names have come up in CSIS leaks cited by media reports on China’s interference in Canadian elections, are set to testify this week at the public inquiry into foreign interference.

Additionally, those who have been reported targets of Beijing’s interference—including NDP MP Jenny Kwan, Conservative MP Michael Chong, former Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, and former MP Kenny Chiu—will testify during the second round of hearings set to run from March 27 to April 10.

Mr. Dong resigned from the Liberal caucus to sit as an Independent MP in March 2023 after a Global News report, citing anonymous national security sources, accused him of inappropriate ties to the Chinese Consulate in Toronto. He rejected the allegations and in April 2023 launched a libel suit against Global News.

Mr. Chan, currently the deputy mayor of Markham, Ontario, was also reported by Global News as a CSIS target. The media outlet, citing leaked national security sources, alleged his involvement in China’s interference in Canada’s federal election. In 2023, Mr. Chan launched a lawsuit against CSIS. He is also suing Global News and its former reporter Sam Cooper, who had reported extensively about China’s alleged interference in Canada.

Both politicians did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Epoch Times.

In the March round of hearings, several officials from Elections Canada are set to testify, including Chief Electoral Officer of Canada Stéphane Perrault, as well as both the incumbent and former commissioners of Canada Elections Caroline Simard and Yves Côté. Additionally, Walied Soliman, who served as campaign chair for Mr. O'Toole, will also take the witness stand.

In the following week, from April 4 to April 10, witnesses scheduled to testify include Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his chief of staff Katie Telford, and a number of cabinet ministers and senior officials. This includes both the incumbent and former public safety ministers Dominic LeBlanc and Bill Blair, the latter currently serving as national defence minister.

CSIS Director David Vigneault, RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme, and Karina Gould, the leader of the Government in the House of Commons, are also set to testify in the second week.

The public inquiry was initiated following widespread reports of Beijing’s interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections, including alleged funding for at least 11 federal candidates in 2019. Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue stated that the upcoming hearings will focus on gathering evidence regarding foreign state or non-state interference in the past two federal elections.

The Liberal government initially opposed a public inquiry into foreign interference, despite MPs in a House of Commons committee urging Mr. Trudeau to launch an inquiry to examine reports of the Chinese communist regime’s election meddling. Instead, the prime minister appointed former governor general David Johnston as an “independent special rapporteur” on foreign election interference, who later stepped down amid criticism over his perceived links to the Trudeau family.

Ottawa subsequently relented to launching a public inquiry and engaged in negotiations with major opposition parties last summer. The commission completed a first round of hearings in early February, with an interim report due by May 3.

A third round of hearings, focusing on the federal government’s ability to detect, counter, and deter foreign interference targeting Canada’s electoral processes, is scheduled for later in the fall, with the date yet to be determined.