Canadian PM accuses China of aggressive intervention in election, highlights fund results to candidates

Posted On: March 8, 2023

OTTAWA, KOMPAS.com- Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau has accused China of aggressively intervening in Canadian elections, playing democratic games and targeting the country’s institutions.

The allegations add to local media reports that Canadian intelligence has identified a “secret network” of Beijing-backed candidates in recent elections.

According to officials’ reports to Trudeau, at least 11 candidates were backed by China in the 2019 federal election.

Local outlet Global News quoted an unnamed intelligence official as reporting that Beijing was directing funds to candidates and Chinese operatives were acting as campaign advisers for many candidates.

In one case, funding of 250,000 Canadian dollars (2.8 billion rupees) went to the office of an Ontario-based provincial member of parliament.

According to the outlet, the operation was orchestrated from the Chinese consulate in Toronto and attempted to place agents from Beijing in the office of the sitting lawmaker. The goal is to influence policy.

Attempts have also been made to “assimilate and influence” former Canadian officials in an effort to gain influence in political circles.

The attempted interference reportedly targeted the two main political parties – Trudeau’s Liberal party and the opposition Conservative party. However, it is not known whether the operation was successful.

Chinese officials in Canada did not respond to questions from Global News about the allegations.

“We have taken significant steps to strengthen the integrity of our electoral process and system, and we will continue to invest in the fight against electoral interference, against foreign interference in our democracy and our institutions,” he said. Trudeau told reporters on Monday 2022) as reported by the BBC.

“Unfortunately, we see states, state actors around the world, be it China or others, continuing to play an aggressive game with our institutions, with our democracy,” he added.

The report comes after authorities said they were investigating allegations that China opened an unofficial “police” office in Canada.

Last month, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said it was investigating “criminal activity, in relation to so-called ‘police stations'”, which had also been reported in a number of European countries.

Several EU countries, including Ireland and the Netherlands, have ordered China to shut down police outposts, which would be used to pressure dissidents to return to China and do facing criminal charges.

Dutch media have found evidence that so-called overseas gas stations, which they claim provide diplomatic services, have been used in an attempt to silence Chinese dissidents in Europe.

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