Eye on China as Canada police investigate foreign ‘interference activities’
- RCMP commissioner confirms investigations into ‘broader foreign actor interference activities’ amid strained China-Canada ties
- Recent Canada reports claimed that Beijing had funded a ‘clandestine network’ of candidates in the 2019 federal election
Canadian federal police are investigating widespread interference by China in Canadian affairs, including its “democratic processes” the nation’s top police official has said in a letter to a parliamentary committee but without detailing the allegations.
The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs is looking into possible foreign interference in Canadian elections.
The letter obtained by Agence France-Pressse on Tuesday was sent to the committee by Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Brenda Lucki.
In it she says there was “no evidence at the time” of interference in the 2019 federal election following Canada news reports that Beijing had funded a “clandestine network” of candidates.
But, she added: “the RCMP can confirm that it currently does have investigations into broader foreign actor interference activities”.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in the House of Commons that Canada’s “intelligence services have highlighted many times that interference in Canadian affairs by foreign powers is an ongoing thing”.