Former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu says the government and election authorities did little to help him or even make him aware of Chinese government interference in the 2021 federal election.
The Foreign Interference Commission has released several internal memos showing the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and others believed Mr. Chiu was targeted by foreign agents.
“It is almost like I was drowning and they were watching,” he added.
Mr. Chiu noted that when he had gone door-knocking in his riding of Steveston-Richmond East in British Columbia during the election campaign, many people of Chinese background had slammed doors in his face when they heard his Chinese name, and said that many people were under the impression that he hated China and Chinese people.
Mr. Chiu lost his seat during the 2021 election to Liberal MP Parm Bains. He has long alleged being targeted by CCP interference through pre-election misinformation on Chinese-language social media platforms. Mr. Chiu has said he was framed as “anti-China” after tabling a bill to establish a national registry for foreign agents, in order to regulate lobbying on behalf of people and groups who serve foreign interests.
He told the inquiry that if he had known he was being targeted by the CCP, he may not have run for office at all, citing his relatives in China that could potentially be “put in danger” through their relationship.
