Conservatives Question Minister Over How NATO Intern Arrested in Belgium Was Cleared for Government Work

Conservative MP for Sturgeon River-Parkland Dane Lloyd rises during Question Period in Ottawa on Sept. 20, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Conservative MP Dane Lloyd is calling on the public safety minister to explain how a Canadian NATO intern recently arrested in Belgium on espionage charges was cleared to work in past government positions.

Lloyd, who serves as national security adviser in the Conservative shadow cabinet, also sought answers of what is being done to “ensure this never happens again,” in a July 30 letter addressed to Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree.

“That this individual was ultimately apprehended by Belgian law enforcement is an embarrassment for our country,” Lloyd wrote, noting that the unnamed intern reportedly worked previously at Statistics Canada and the Canadian Space Agency.

“For the sake of Canadians and our NATO allies, I am calling on you to explain how this individual was cleared by the Government of Canada to work in such a sensitive position, and what measures you are taking to ensure this never happens again.”

The suspect was arrested July 24 following a search of her home and work computers and has been charged with espionage by Belgian authorities.

She was interning at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) military headquarters in Mons, Belgium, according to the Belgian prosecutor’s office, who described her as “a Canadian national of Chinese origin” in a July 25 release.

She is accused of belonging to a “criminal organisation” and spying on behalf of an unspecified “third country,” according to prosecutors, who note that her conduct was reported to NATO security before they referred it to Belgian police, resulting in her subsequent arrest.

The suspect was denied bail in a closed-door hearing on July 28. The allegations against her have not been tested in court and the Canadian government, Belgian authorities, and NATO have not confirmed her identity.

An online profile appearing to belong to the suspect lists work history at the Canadian Space Agency in “satellite operations,” a data scientist role at the National Research Council of Canada, and an economist position at Statistics Canada, and education at Oxford University, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Montreal.

The National Research Council of Canada, Statistics Canada, and the Canadian Space Agency said they could not confirm the suspect’s identity or work history but sent identical statements to The Epoch Times stating that the matter is being taken “very seriously.”

“We will continue to collaborate domestically and with our international partners to protect national security and preserve the integrity of the investigative process,” StatCan spokesperson Carter Mann wrote in a July 31 email to The Epoch Times.

Anandasangaree has commented that he won’t “speculate on this specific case,” but said Canada is continuing to “investigate the processes we have and the security screening.”

“What I will say is that the allegations that have been made are quite serious,” Anandasangaree said during an unrelated July 27 press conference in New Westminster, B.C. “Canadian law enforcement and Canadian authorities are continuously monitoring and will monitor the impact of the work this individual has done, if they have done any work in Canada.”

Global Affairs Canada (GAC), which is responsible for sponsoring Canadian candidates for NATO internships and initiating the required security-clearance process, said it is also aware of the case and in touch with Belgian authorities.

“GAC officials are prepared to provide consular services and are in contact with local authorities,” GAC stated in a July 28 email to The Epoch Times.

The SHAPE internship program accepts 35 interns per year from NATO member nations, according to its website, which notes that applicants must undergo security screening and approval by their national authority that can take anywhere from eight weeks to 18 months.

Lloyd said that the arrest of the Canadian national has “serious implications” for the reputation of Canada around the world.

“We need to work with our allies and partners to keep Canadians safe in a dangerous and ever-changing world. That starts with earning their trust,” he ssaid.

SHAPE is responsible for planning and coordinating military operations and readiness in Europe and has said the alleged espionage has not impacted its operations.