More than 100 foreign interference investigations underway, RCMP chief says – National | 24CA News
The RCMP says it has greater than 100 ongoing investigations associated to overseas interference, together with one involving intimidation allegations focusing on a Conservative member of Parliament.
Commissioner Michael Duheme instructed MPs on the process and House affairs committee the pressure is probing allegations Beijing tried to focus on and intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong and his household.
Duheme additionally stated the RCMP has contacted elections officers concerning the allegations, together with these involving different elected officers who’ve made claims of being focused by Beijing.
Furthermore, among the many allegations revamped the previous months had been that a number of Chinese police stations had been working in Canada; Duheme instructed MPs these had been now closed.
“We are comfortable based on the criminal intelligence that we have that the activities in the specific areas have shut down,” he stated.
“I put a caveat: the policing activities have shut down, but be mindful that the buildings they were using sometimes are community halls, which are meant for other means, but we’re confident with the intelligence that we have the policing activity that was being done there has been shut down and investigations are continuing.”
Foreign interference, which has dominated the political environment in Ottawa for months amid allegations of Chinese meddling in elections and society, has emerged as a precedence for regulation enforcement, the RCMP has stated beforehand.
So far, just one case has led to expenses, Duheme stated. In November 2022, a 35-year-old former Hydro-Quebec worker was arrested and charged for allegedly acquiring commerce secrets and techniques for the Chinese authorities.
Last month, the federal authorities confirmed a Globe and Mail report the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had data in 2021 that Beijing was taking a look at methods to intimidate Chong and his relations in Hong Kong.
China has denied the allegations that it focused Chong after the MP voted in February 2021 in favour of a movement within the House of Commons condemning China’s therapy of its Uyghur minority as a genocide.
The spat led to each nations expelling diplomats in a tit-for-tat transfer and prompted a coverage change for CSIS to tell MPs of threats regardless of how severe.
Since then, NDP MP Jenny Kwan stated CSIS has instructed her that she’s been a goal of Chinese authorities interference. She stated the interference makes an attempt date again to the 2019 federal election however are believed to be ongoing.
Kwan’s revelation got here after a supply beforehand instructed Global News that former Tory chief Erin O’Toole was focused by China when he led the occasion within the 2021 federal election.
— with information from The Canadian Press
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
