Ottawa did not warn of alleged Chinese threats to family, Tory MP says – National | 24CA News
Conservative member of Parliament Michael Chong says Ottawa ought to have knowledgeable him about potential threats to his household made by China’s authorities two years in the past.
The MP launched a press release after the Globe and Mail reported, citing a top-secret doc and an nameless nationwide safety supply, that China’s intelligence service sought to focus on the MP and his household and {that a} Chinese diplomat who stays in Canada was concerned.
Chong, a former cupboard minister, at the moment serves because the Tories’ foreign-affairs critic and routinely criticizes the regime in Beijing for its human-rights report and its alleged makes an attempt to meddle in Canada’s affairs.
In February 2021, he voted in favour of a movement condemning China’s remedy of its Uyghur minority as a genocide. The following month, China sanctioned Chong, barring him from coming into the county and prohibiting Chinese residents from conducting business with him.
Chong mentioned in a press release Monday that like different Canadians, he has household in Hong Kong — and any efforts to threaten them in an try and intimidate or coerce folks in Canada constitutes a nationwide menace.
“It undermines social cohesion, and our cherished fundamental rights and freedoms,” Chong mentioned.
Chong mentioned the Canadian Security Intelligence Service by no means briefed him about any threats made towards him or his household, including he believes that’s as a result of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s workplace didn’t authorize such a warning.
“The Trudeau government continuing to accredit and allow a (Chinese) diplomat to remain in Canada to target my family abroad demonstrates a complete lack of leadership and common decency.”
Trudeau’s workplace and the safety company didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark and The Canadian Press has not independently verified the allegations printed within the Globe and Mail.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was pressed on the matter throughout query interval within the House of Commons Monday, advised MPs he has requested officers to observe up on the studies.
“This is absolutely unacceptable, and it shouldn’t have happened,” Trudeau mentioned.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre urged Trudeau to expel the diplomat in query and accused the prime minister of failing to take correct motion, together with delivering a warning to Chong.
Poilievre additionally mentioned the alleged threats had been purpose for Canada to create a overseas agent registry as quickly as doable that will maintain monitor of individuals being paid to behave on behalf of overseas nations in Canada.
The authorities launched public consultations on that concept in March, and they’re anticipated to wrap up subsequent week.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
