RCMP Investigating ‘Broad’ Chinese Interference Activities in Canada, Lucki Tells Committee

RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki arrives at the Public Order Emergency Commission in Ottawa on Nov. 15, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

The RCMP is investigating ‘broad’ Chinese interference in Canadian affairs, Commissioner Brenda Lucki said in a letter to a parliamentary committee studying allegations of Chinese funding of candidates in the 2019 federal election.

However, Lucki said there were no investigations of Chinese meddling in the 2019 election “at the time” as the RCMP lacked evidence.

“In the context of the 2019 federal general election, the RCMP did not have any criminal investigations into election-related activities as there was no evidence at the time,” Lucki wrote in a letter to the House of Commons procedure and House affairs committee obtained by the Globe and Mail.

“That said, the RCMP can confirm that it currently does have investigations into broader foreign-actor interference activities,” she wrote, including “interference in democratic processes” in Canada.

Lucki added in her letter that she could not reveal any investigative details to MPs that could “reasonably be expected to be injurious to the conduct of international affairs, the defence of Canada or any state allied or associated with Canada.”

“These investigations are ongoing,” she wrote.

On Nov. 22, Canada’s chief electoral officer Stéphane Perrault told the committee that he never received any reports of Chinese interference in the election three years ago.

“I’ve not received any reports regarding specific instances of noncompliance with the legislation or specific instances of Chinese interference in the election,” Perrault said.

At the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, on Nov. 15, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The Prime Minister’s Office later said Trudeau raised “serious concerns” about Chinese interference in Canadian affairs during the conversation.

‘Serious Concerns’

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly spoke with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the same day in Bali. She told reporters after that any possible foreign interference in Canadian elections is “intolerable.”

“I’ve said it many times and I said it to my counterpart: we won’t accept any form of meddling in our governments, in our elections, and we won’t tolerate any form of foreign interference in Canada,” she said.

A Global News report published Nov. 7 alleged that the prime minister was briefed by intelligence officials about candidates being funded by China in the 2019 election. However, Trudeau told reporters in Djerba, Tunisia, on Nov. 20 that he was never briefed about the matter.

“I get briefed up regularly from our intelligence and security officials. I have no information on any federal candidates receiving money from China,” he said.

On Nov. 23, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre last week asked the prime minister in the House of Commons to elaborate on the concerns his office said he raised with Xi at the G20 Summit.

“His office said he, quote, ‘Raised our serious concerns about interference activities in Canada.’ Was the prime minister ever briefed about any of these?” Poilievre asked during question period.

“I am regularly briefed by intelligence officials and security experts on threats to Canada and to Canadians,” Trudeau replied.

“Whether it be cyber threats, whether it be interference with Canadian diaspora communities, whether it be use of online misinformation or disinformation. There are a range of threats out there that Canadians and Canadian security agencies continue to be vigilant against.”

Isaac Teo and Andrew Chen contributed to this report.