Opposition parties affirm call for interference inquiry, amid questions over MP Han Dong
Amid renewed questions over the pervasiveness of alleged interference by China in Canadian elections and affairs broadly, opposition MPs voted Thursday afternoon to affirm a parliamentary committee's call for the federal government to strike a public inquiry.
The NDP forced a vote in the House of Commons on what's called a "concurrence motion," essentially seeing the House as a whole double down on the Procedure and House Affairs Committee's call for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to "launch a national public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in Canada's democratic system."
The vote passed 172 to 149, with MPs from the NDP, Conservative, Bloc Quebecois and Green voting in favour, and Liberal MPs voting against.
Beyond heaping new pressure on Trudeau to supersede his prescribed late May timeline for special rapporteur David Johnston to advise whether an inquiry is needed, the vote is not binding.
The report the majority of MPs voted in favour of called for the inquiry to include but not be limited to foreign interference allegations during elections, and to look at foreign governments beyond China.
It also outlined that the inquiry should be granted necessary powers to compel witnesses and secret documents, investigate abuse of diaspora groups by hostile foreign governments, and that the person selected to head the probe be picked by all parties.
"It has become very clear now with allegations coming out on a daily basis that are continuing to erode peoples' confidence in our democracy, that we need a public inquiry," said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh during a pre-question period scrum.
Asked by reporters whether he's ready to trigger a federal election over the prime minister's continued resistance to a public inquiry, Singh said no because he doesn't think it would be responsible to thrust the country into another campaign when there are concerns about the integrity of Canada's democratic processes.
"My goal is to safeguard democracy, encourage people to participate, make sure people feel comfortable voting and feel safe to vote and are not being influenced in their votes. That goal is met by having a public inquiry. That goal is not met by triggering an election, which would then be an election open to all those same potential risks of interference."
This latest push came after Toronto-area MP Han Dong announced Wednesday night that he would be stepping out of the Liberal caucus to sit as an independent MP to focus on clearing his name in light of new allegations levelled by Global News that he was involved in efforts by China to meddle in Canadian affairs.
Citing unnamed "national security sources," Global News reported that Dong had suggested to a senior Chinese diplomat in 2021 that China should delay releasing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor -- the two Canadians who had been imprisoned in China from 2018 to 2021 -- in order to avoid benefitting the Conservative Party. CTV News has not independently verified Global News' reporting.
Dong admitted in the Global News report he had spoken with the Chinese official to discuss the two Michaels, but strongly denies the allegations that he pushed for their release to be delayed. In the House, he told MPs he did "nothing to cause any harm" to the two Michaels and "worked hard and advocated for their interest."
“The allegations made against me are as false as the ones made against you,” Dong said, referring to Kovrig and Spavor in his remarks. "I will be sitting as an independent to ensure that the business of government, and indeed, the business of Parliament, is not interrupted as I work to clear my name."
Dong voted in favour of the motion calling for a public inquiry.
Interesting, though perhaps unsurprising given last 24 hours but @handongontario has voted yea for the NDP motion affirming PROC's call for the federal government to launch a public inquiry into interference. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/AuGPzbkOWf
— Rachel Aiello (@rachaiello) March 23, 2023
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto said the claims made in recent media reporting are "utterly groundless."
Focusing on this story during question period, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre peppered Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly with questions.
"A thousand days, a thousand days, the two Michaels sat hopeless in a windowless cell, fed in doggie bowls that were slid under their door, going eight months without seeing consular support. Yet, according to Global News, a Liberal MP allegedly contacted the Chinese Consulate and encouraged them to delay the release of these two Michaels for partisan Liberal gain. The intelligence services that came up with this information to the media would have told the prime minister. When did they tell him?" asked Poilievre.
"Let me be clear. Bringing back the two Michaels, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, was the utmost priority of this government, of all members in this House, of all Canadians across the country,” Joly responded. “For two years, we worked tirelessly to make sure that these two Michaels—which were arbitrarily detained by China— would be coming back safe home. That's what we did. And that was the only priority. Thinking otherwise is absolutely false.”
In an English media exclusive interview on CTV's Your Morning that aired Thursday morning, Trudeau was asked why he hasn't been more forthcoming about what he knew and when in terms of allegations of election interference attempts by China. Trudeau said those kinds of questions wouldn't "necessarily" be able to be explored in a public inquiry, citing national security limitations.
"Whereas the panel of parliamentarians that we have that have got top secret clearance to look into it… David Johnston as our expert is going to be able to look at that, and reassure and give Canadians confidence," Trudeau said.
In an interview with CTV News, former CSIS Director Ward Elcock said what is being alleged about Dong doesn’t rise to the level of foreign interference, noting MPs can and do speak to foreign governments and express views, and that in and of itself is not improper, it depends what is discussed.
"This is a Canadian, allegedly, a Canadian MP talking to and providing advice to a Chinese diplomat. That's not foreign interference. It doesn't also rise to the level of he is now working for the Chinese... It's not espionage, it's not foreign interference. At best, it's allegedly improper activity or behavior on his part as an MP, no more no less," he said.
Elcock added whomever is leaking these allegations is doing damage to both Canada's national security and intelligence operations and the individuals involved, and expressed concern over how politicized the issue has become.
"I don't regard this as a positive thing at all. At the end of the day, it has allowed this issue to become just a political football, and for national security issues to become a political football is the worst of all possible worlds," Elcock said. He remains against the idea of a public inquiry.
With files from CTV News' Tom Yun and Judy Trinh
IN DEPTH
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Trudeau, key election players to testify at foreign interference hearings. What you need to know
The public hearings portion of the federal inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections and democratic institutions are picking back up this week. Here's what you need to know.
Who is supporting, opposing new online harms bill?
Now that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's sweeping online harms legislation is before Parliament, allowing key stakeholders, major platforms, and Canadians with direct personal experience with abuse to dig in and see what's being proposed, reaction is streaming in. CTVNews.ca has rounded up reaction, and here's how Bill C-63 is going over.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
TREND LINE What Nanos' tracking tells us about Canadians' mood, party preference heading into 2024
Heading into a new year, Canadians aren't feeling overly optimistic about the direction the country is heading, with the number of voters indicating negative views about the federal government's performance at the highest in a decade, national tracking from Nanos Research shows.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Local Spotlight
Marmot in the city: New resident of North Vancouver's Lower Lonsdale a 'rock star rodent'
When Les Robertson was walking home from the gym in North Vancouver's Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood three weeks ago, he did a double take. Standing near a burrow it had dug in a vacant lot near East 1st Street and St. Georges Avenue was a yellow-bellied marmot.
Relocated seal returns to Greater Victoria after 'astonishing' 204-kilometre trek
A moulting seal who was relocated after drawing daily crowds of onlookers in Greater Victoria has made a surprise return, after what officials described as an 'astonishing' six-day journey.
Ottawa barber shop steps away from Parliament Hill marks 100 years in business
Just steps from Parliament Hill is a barber shop that for the last 100 years has catered to everyone from prime ministers to tourists.
'It was a special game': Edmonton pinball player celebrates high score and shout out from game designer
A high score on a Foo Fighters pinball machine has Edmonton player Dave Formenti on a high.
'How much time do we have?': 'Contamination' in Prairie groundwater identified
A compound used to treat sour gas that's been linked to fertility issues in cattle has been found throughout groundwater in the Prairies, according to a new study.
'Why not do it together?': Lifelong friends take part in 'brosectomy' in Vancouver
While many people choose to keep their medical appointments private, four longtime friends decided to undergo vasectomies as a group in B.C.'s Lower Mainland.
Grain-gobbling bears spark 'no stopping' zone in Banff National Park
A popular highway in Alberta's Banff National Park now has a 'no stopping zone' to help protect two bears.
Deer family appears to accept B.C. man as one of their own
B.C. resident Robert Conrad spent thousands of hours on Crown land developing an unusual bond with deer.
Doorbell video shows family of black bears scared off by dog in Sudbury, Ont.
A Sudbury woman said her husband was bringing the recycling out to the curb Wednesday night when he had to make a 'mad dash' inside after seeing a bear.