How China compromised federal elections in Canada.

By OpIndia

Summary

In the midst of escalating diplomatic strain between India and Canada, a significant revelation has surfaced regarding Parm Bains, a notable member of the Liberal Party of Canada. Bains has been publicly identified as a collaborator with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This explosive information was brought to light by Sam Cooper, a well-known Canadian investigative journalist, during a press conference held on Monday, October 28th.

Cooper disclosed that journalists linked to the ‘Canada Committee 100 Society’ had endorsed Parm Bains’s bid for the 2021 federal elections. It was revealed that Bains had expressed opposition to then Conservative Party leader Kenny Chiu’s foreign agent registry bill, labeling it as an exclusionary policy during discussions with these journalists. The ‘Canada Committee 100 Society’ is known for its close ties to the Chinese United Front Overseas Leaders Group, an extension of the Chinese government’s influence abroad.

Cooper further revealed a recording of Liberal senator Yuen Pau Woo during a private meeting with members of the ‘Canada Committee 100 Society’ in 2020, where he voiced his opposition to targeting Chinese groups involved in influencing and interfering in Canadian elections.

The investigative journalist also shed light on the actions of multiple Liberal Party leaders whom he points to as CCP collaborators. He detailed how these individuals have consistently submitted documents that undermine Canadian intelligence, aligning with talking points from Chinese intelligence sources.

Cooper’s confidence in the allegation that these individuals were acting on behalf of Beijing was strengthened by information from a confidential source, who confirmed that Senator Woo, appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was under investigation by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Additionally, it was revealed that a staffer of Liberal Party MP Mary Ng had met with a ‘Chinese intelligence actor’ named Zhou Wei, who is a diplomat at the Toronto consulate.

Cooper stated there is evidence suggesting Zhou Wei collaborated with political staffers to gather information on meetings of elected officials and their movements. There is an indication that staff members were directed to report privately to the consulate regarding Mary Ng’s activities.

In a recent development, Parm Bains, the Liberal Party MP for Steveston—Richmond East, has been exposed as a collaborator of the Chinese Communist Party, along with two other party leaders. Just a week prior, Bains had accused Indian diplomats of engaging in ‘foreign interference’ in Canada. Bains further alleged that these activities were covert, deceptive, illegal, and threatened all levels of government, the private sector, academia, diaspora communities, and the general public. He also mentioned that up to 30 arrests had been made and that public safety agencies would continue to work to ensure justice and answers for the disregard of Canadian and international law.

Previously, Bains had claimed that a former Indian army official had expressed interest in spending $100 million to elect a Conservative government.

The issue of Chinese interference in Canadian elections came to the fore on November 7, 2022, when Global News reported that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had briefed Justin Trudeau about covert funding to 11 federal candidates in the 2019 elections. CSIS stated that the Chinese Communist Party was using all elements of state power to carry out activities that posed a direct threat to Canada’s national security and sovereignty.

Global News further reported that the candidates who received funding from the CCP belonged to both the ruling Liberal Party and the Opposition Conservative Party.

According to The Diplomat, the ‘China factor’ played a significant role in the defeat of Conservative Party leader Kenny Chiu by Parm Bains. The Diplomat report noted that while the three major political parties had mentioned standing up to authoritarianism and China in their campaign platforms, the Conservatives had developed more proposals against China. These messages did not resonate well with suburban voters, particularly those of Chinese descent, leading to the loss of the Conservatives in the Richmond Centre and Markham Unionville electoral districts, where people of Chinese descent constitute 60% of the population. Despite these revelations, Parm Bains maintains that he won ‘fair and square’ without the assistance of the CCP intelligentsia.

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