RCMP closes investigation into alleged ‘Chinese police stations’ in Montreal area without laying charges

An RCMP investigation into two Montreal-area organizations accused of serving as “Chinese police stations” has been closed, the Mounties confirmed to CTV News.

Federal police were looking into the Service à la Famille Chinoise du Grand Montréal, in Chinatown, and the Centre Sino-Québec de la Rive-Sud, in Brossard, on Montreal’s South Shore.

The alleged police stations were described as outposts serving to monitor and “persuade” people who Chinese authorities claim are fugitives living overseas to return to China and face charges.

In April 2023, the RCMP said it shut down all “Chinese police stations” in Canada.

“We have closed the foreign interference investigation into alleged illicit activities reported in connection with Chinese diaspora service centres in the Montreal area. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, we are unable to comment in greater detail,” the RCMP said in an email statement.

It added that it is not recommending that charges be laid, but will “continue its efforts to combat foreign interference and any form of intimidation, harassment, threats or harmful targeting of diaspora communities or individuals in Canada.”

The two community groups always denied the allegations and said they would cooperate with authorities while the investigation was ongoing. They said the RCMP eventually stopped communicating with them, and they never received news or feedback.

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The groups stressed the importance of the presumption of innocence and warned against generalizations that risked stigmatizing the Chinese community.

The investigation did cause a stir among Montreal’s Chinese community, with some asking for explanations and an apology from the RCMP.

China also accused Canada of smearing its reputation over the allegations.

A 2022 report from Spanish human rights group Safeguard Defenders, which monitors disappearances in China, alleged the discovery of over 100 Chinese police stations in over 50 countries.

China denies the allegations.

Ongoing lawsuit

In March 2024, the two Montreal-area organizations and Brossard city councillor Xixi Li — who ran both centres — sued the RCMP and the mayor of Brossard for defamation, seeking more than $4.9 million in damages.

The lawsuit says the accusations damaged Li’s dignity and reputation, and is ongoing.

At a news conference Friday, Li said she is relieved this chapter has closed.

She said that following the allegations, including comments from Brossard Mayor Doreen Assaad, she was attacked, insulted and stared at in public.

“It felt as if my life had stopped,” she said. “For almost three years, I was treated as if I was already guilty, yet the RCMP never met with me.”

Li’s mental health and quality of life were deeply affected, and she went on leave for several months before resuming her functions at council.

She said she was especially shaken as a community worker and non-profit director.

“My priority was always to help people in need and I intend to continue doing so for years to come,” said Li.

Li is running again in the upcoming Brossard municipal election as part of Hanadi Saad’s Vision Brossard party.

Saad accused Assaad of intimidation and fear-mongering, saying she put Li’s integrity in question without any formal accusations.

Saad is demanding a public apology from Assaad and for the mayor to refund the city the money used for her legal fees.

Assaad could not immediately be reached for comment.

Li said members of the Chinese community and often reached out to tell her they were outraged by how she was treated and how it affected the entire community.

The Chinese community makes up about 12 per cent of Brossard’s population as of 2021, according to Saad.

With files from CTV News Montreal’s Joe Lofaro