Tory Motion Invites Chinese Ambassador to Testify at Committee on Targeting of MP Chong

Ambassador of China to Canada Cong Peiwu speaks as part of a panel at the Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence in Ottawa, on March 4, 2020. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

Conservative MP Michael Cooper has tabled a lengthy motion in committee to investigate Beijing’s targeting of his colleague MP Michael Chong, while seeking to invite the Chinese ambassador to Canada to testify.

“This motion arises from a question of privilege on a matter that is about as serious as it gets,” said Cooper, presenting his motion before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC), on May 11.

The House voted unanimously to investigate the issue on May 10, then referred the matter to PROC.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) told Chong, on May 2, that a Chinese spy service and a Chinese diplomat in Canada had sought to target him and his family over his advocacy for human rights in China.

The briefing came a day after the Globe and Mail broke the story, citing a leaked CSIS assessment and an anonymous national security source.

“This is an attack on this House, on every Member of Parliament. It’s an attack on our democracy,” said Cooper.

His motion calls for the production of relevant documents and bringing back multiple witnesses to testify before PROC, including ministers and top officials of security agencies.

Cooper also seeks to hear from current and former National Security and Intelligence Advisors (NSIA). The 2021 CSIS assessment of the Chinese regime’s threat to MPs was sent to the NSIA’s office within the Privy Council Office, but it was reportedly never briefed to the prime minister.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had only learned of the issue through the Globe and Mail report.

The Conservative motion also calls to have Chinese Ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu testify, though he will almost certainly not appear before committee.

Debate was adjourned on the motion, to be voted on at a future PROC meeting. Liberal and NDP MPs supported the intention of the motion.

“I think there’s probably a large degree of agreement on the majority of it,” said Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull, but added he needs more time to look at the list of witnesses.

“Obviously, we all take this matter very seriously. A question of privilege is obviously something that brings a concern to all of us as Members of Parliament and, in particular, in this case, I think is something that we need to get to the bottom of.”

The expanded committee study on foreign interference comes after Canada recently declared persona non grata the Chinese consular official Zhao Wei, who was reportedly involved in activities targeting MP Chong.

The Globe, citing national security sources, reported on May 12 that Zhao was also involved in spying on Chinese diaspora communities.