His comments on Monday came after a report that Beijing had funded a “clandestine network” of candidates in Canada’s 2019 election and days after federal police said they were actively investigating a secret network of illegal Chinese “police departments” in Toronto. The allegations — which came on the same day a close ally of Vladimir Putin said Russia had previously meddled in the U.S. election — are likely to heighten concerns about the scope of foreign intrusion into Canadian domestic politics. “We have taken significant steps to strengthen the integrity of our election processes and our systems, and we will continue to invest in the fight against election interference, against foreign interference in our democracy and our institutions,” Trudeau told reporters on Monday in afternoon. “Unfortunately, we see countries, state actors from all over the world, whether it’s China or others, continue to play aggressive games with our institutions, with our democracies.” The prime minister’s remarks followed a report by Global News that Canadian intelligence agencies had concluded that Beijing had worked to undermine Canada’s democratic process in multiple elections, including those held in 2019 and 2021. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) briefed the prime minister, as well as senior cabinet ministers, in January on China’s efforts, the report said. The efforts are believed to include placing agents in the offices of lawmakers to influence policy in China’s favor, as well as efforts to “collaborate and corrupt” former Canadian officials in order to gain political power and influence in the nation’s capital. It is unclear whether CSIS or the federal government believe the efforts were successful. David Mulroney, Canada’s former ambassador to China, said the accusations were “much more aggressive” than previously suspected. “Just when you think some accusations against China are exaggerated, you find they are actually understated.” he said. “They represent a malicious, dangerous threat to our democracy.” Attempts to interfere in the elections have targeted members of both the Liberal and Conservative parties. “We had evidence of interference in the last general election through proxies spreading disinformation on Chinese-language social media platforms, who interfered in a series of [electoral districts] with significant Chinese communities,” Conservative MP Michael Chong told the Guardian. He said a number of incidents of harassment against prominent Uyghur and Tibetan students at Ontario universities had been “coordinated” through the Chinese consulate in Toronto. Staff at the red-brick building in a leafy, affluent enclave of the city also allegedly led efforts to undermine Canada’s federal election. According to Global News, CSIS believes the consulate was behind a large financial transaction to at least 11 federal election candidates and officials working as campaign staff – C$250,000 ($185,000) allegedly funneled through an Ontario provincial legislator and employee to candidate for federal election. Efforts to interfere in the election have been linked to the Communist Party’s United Front labor division, an organization in Beijing that monitors and attempts to influence Chinese nationals abroad. United Front operations are also linked to a secret network of illegal police departments operating in Canada and around the world. Asked to comment on the allegations, the prime minister’s office said: “Protecting the safety of Canadians is our first priority. Threats, harassment or intimidation of Canadian citizens is unacceptable and all reports of interference are thoroughly investigated by our security services. “As threats evolve, so must the methods used to address them. That’s why the prime minister has given the minister of public safety a mandate to improve cooperation between Canada’s security agencies.” Mulroney pointed to failed efforts to implement a foreign agent registry that would have prevented Beijing from seeking to influence former Canadian officials. “It would reduce China’s ability to recruit people, not just in the diaspora, but in business and politics, who can be bought for a few thousand dollars,” he said. “I think we desperately need it, but the government hasn’t moved on.” The revelations about Beijing’s attempts to intervene, as well as the ongoing investigation into illegal Chinese police stations, come as Ottawa prepares to unveil its “China strategy” — a long-delayed policy move to formalize its plan to confront an increasingly aggressive Beijing. Canada has a complicated relationship with the economic superpower: even as diplomatic relations have soured, exports have grown. Canada recently ordered three Chinese companies to divest from Canadian mining companies on national security grounds. Last month, a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians visited Taiwan, prompting anger from Beijing that Ottawa “blatantly interfered[ing] in China’s internal affairs’. In December, Canada will co-host Cop15, the world conference on biodiversity, with China. “Beijing is always looking for the weakest link in the chain,” Mulroney said, adding that Canada is increasingly faced with China targeting the United States. “We cannot afford to be in this position. We just can’t.”
