Former head of the Conservative party Erin O’Toole will testify Wednesday morning at a government investigation into outside meddling, along with three politicians who say China has focused on them.
Last spring, O’Toole announced that Canada’s spy agency informed him that Chinese interference was aimed at spreading false information online about his policies and discrediting him during the 2019 election.
The Conservatives claim that security officials never told the party about these concerns, which O’Toole blames for losing eight or nine seats. A government rapporteur found little proof of such a connection.
Later on, former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu is scheduled to testify, followed by NDP MP Jenny Kwan and then Tory foreign-affairs critic Michael Chong. All three believe China has targeted them for supporting human rights.
Last May, Ottawa expelled a Chinese diplomat after Canada’s spy agency accused Zhao Wei of being involved in a scheme to intimidate Chong’s relatives in Hong Kong.
Kwan says the Canadian Security Intelligence Service informed her that China targeted her during the 2019 election in ways she cannot reveal, in retaliation for her advocacy for human rights in Hong Kong and for the Uyghur Muslim minority in China.
Chiu says Chinese authorities opposed him in the 2021 federal election after he had suggested a foreign-agent registry. Special rapporteur David Johnston stated that it’s evident that Chiu annoyed Chinese diplomats and that there was false information online about such a registry during the election, but he said it’s unclear if Beijing was behind those postings.
China strongly rejects all claims of interfering in Canadian democracy.
The ongoing hearings are part of the investigation’s efforts to look into potential foreign interference by China, India, Russia and others in the last two general elections.
The inquiry, led by Quebec judge Marie-Josée Hogue, plans to hear evidence from more than 40 individuals including community members, political party representatives and federal election officials.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, members of his cabinet and various senior government officials are also scheduled to appear at the hearings, which are set to end on April 10.
A preliminary report of findings from the investigation is due on May 3.
The inquiry will then turn to broader policy issues, examining the government’s capacity to detect, prevent and counter foreign interference. A final report is expected by the end of the year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on April 3, 2024.
