Communist China interfered with at least two Canadian federal elections, according to the nation’s Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). And the prime minister’s office was notifed of these actions 34 separate times starting in 2018.
CSIS documents revealed that Beijing “cladestinely and deceptively interfered in both the 2019 and 2021 general elections.”
According to reports, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) threw its support behind candidates who were either in favor of its policies or maintained a neutral position.
And according to CSIS findings, this was not simply an isolated case. At least 18 candidates for public office and 13 staff members are believed to have been part of the PRC effort.
The suspects span different political parties.
Not surprisingly, an official of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s left-wing government attempted to downplay the foreign influence on her country’s elections. Nathalie Drouin was the deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general during the 2019 election.
BIG NEWS 🚨 Canada Inquiry reveals that China, not India, interfered in 2019 and 2021 Canada elections 🔥🔥
Will Justin Trudeau speak now? ⚡
There were allegations that the Indian government interfered in Canadian elections but now
Canada's intelligence agency has found that… pic.twitter.com/PjaUjOoqAI— Times Algebra (@TimesAlgebraIND) April 10, 2024
She currently serves as Trudeau’s national security and intelligence adviser. Drouin dismissed Communist Chinese influence on the nation’s elections as merely activities undertaken “when they believe it is necessary to promote their own interest.”
Trudeau’s Liberal Party won both national elections. But the prime minister faced increasing pressure over media reports of Chinese influence during his victorious campaigns, leading him to establish a commission on foreign intelligence.
Erin O’Toole led the Conservative Party during the 2021 election.
He estimated that the party lost as many as nine seats in the Canadian Parliament due to foreign influence, though he rejected the notion that the overall election was influenced.
The CSIS assessment concluded, “State actors are able to conduct foreign interference successfully in Canada because there are few legal or political consequences. FI (foreign interference) is therefore low-risk and high-reward.”
Canadian conservatives campaigned in 2021 to condemn Beijing’s well-documented mistreatment of ethnic minorities in its western regions. They also called for a ban on Chinese electronics giant Huawei from the development of the 5G network.
The 2021 census revealed that Canada is now home to roughly 1.7 million people of Chinese descent. They make up slightly less than 5% of the nation’s population.
