House Affairs Committee Declines to Investigate Liberal Records Related to MP Han Dong

Han Dong, then an Ontario provincial Liberal candidate for Trinity—Spadina, at a rally with supporters in Toronto on May 22, 2014. Dong resigned from the Liberal caucus on March 22, 2023, after a Global News report alleged he had advised a Chinese diplomat that Beijing should postpone freeing two Canadians being detained in China, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)

The House Affairs Committee has declined to investigate Liberal Party records relating to Independent MP Han Dong, who left the Liberal caucus in March after questions were raised about his contact with Chinese state officials.

According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Conservative MP Michael Cooper sponsored the motion asking that the committee order the Prime Minister’s Office and Liberal Party to surrender “all documents” related to Mr. Dong’s 2019 nomination as a Liberal MP.

In March, Global News alleged in an article that Mr. Dong was a “witting affiliate” in China’s election interference networks, and that he had advised a senior Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that Beijing should not release Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who were arbitrarily detained in 2018.

Mr. Dong launched a libel suit against Global News, and resigned in March. He told reporters on March 21 that he had “never been offered nor would I accept any help from a foreign nation,” and that he was “not aware of any help coming from a representative of another country.”

David Johnston, who was the special rapporteur investigating reports on Chinese interference, previously testified to the House Affairs Committee on June 6 that there were “strange” and “unusual” practices related to the nomination process for Mr. Dong. “We did not conclude from that it was directly laid to the hands of the People’s Republic [of China]. There clearly was a discussion between Mr. Dong and the Consulate in Toronto,” he said.

“The irregularities thing had to do with the nomination meetings and busing in of people and students and so on and some questions about whether Mr. Dong had been substituted for another candidate in the nomination process,” added Mr. Johnston.

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When asked by New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan if he asked the prime minister about the irregularities, Mr. Johnston answered in the affirmative. “I believe the prime minister was aware there was some question about the actual nomination and the busing in of people, etcetera,” he said.

However, Mr. Johnston told the committee he never spoke with Mr. Dong about the allegations. Mr. Johnston’s report on foreign interference on May 23 also determined that the allegation surrounding Mr. Dong’s advice to Beijing about Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor was “false,” and that while Mr. Dong did discuss the two Michaels with a Chinese official, he did not recommend that Beijing extend their detention.

In a filing to the Ontario Superior Court on April 12, Mr. Dong admitted to at least 12 phone calls with the Chinese ambassador in Ottawa and China’s consul general in Toronto while he was a sitting MP. Mr. Dong’s lawyer wrote that the conversations were not related to matters of trade, tourism, or his work at the Canada-China Legislative Association, nor were they related to Beijing’s detention of the two Michaels.

In May, following Mr. Johnston’s report on foreign interference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated he would be open to Mr. Dong rejoining the Liberal Party.

“Han Dong chose to step away from caucus so that he could clear his name; so that he could continue to serve his community while he was fighting the allegations laid against him. Mr. Johnston was very clear about the non-substance of those allegations,” Mr. Trudeau told reporters.

“I look forward to conversations with Han about whether he wants to come back and whether his fight to clear his name is ongoing.”