Parliamentary Committee Notes: Question Period Transcripts
Illegal Police Stations
Question Period, October 6, 2022
Hon. Michael Chong (Wellington—Halton Hills, CPC)
Mr. Speaker, the government's priorities are descending into farce. It will not allow U.S. officers into Canada to reopen NEXUS offices even though we have an agreement and the United States is an ally. Meanwhile, Iranian officers freely come to this country to intimidate Canadians because it will not list the IRGC, and now we find out that police officers from the People's Republic of China are operating out of three offices illegally opened in Canada, intimidating Canadians.
What is the government doing about these illegal police stations in Toronto?
Hon. Marco Mendicino (Eglinton—Lawrence, LPC)
Mr. Speaker, I want to be unequivocally clear that we continue to condemn, in the strongest terms, the brutal killing of Mahsa Amini in Iran. We will continue to ensure that we are taking every appropriate action to hold those who did this responsible for their transgressions. We stand with the women. We stand with everyone who is advocating for human rights.
Speaking of women's rights, now would be a fine moment for the Conservatives to stand up and apologize for the way they exploited technology to proliferate hate among anti-women, misogynistic groups. Today is the day to do that.
Question Period, October 7, 2022
Michael Cooper (St. Albert—Edmonton, CPC)
Madam Speaker, it has been reported that the Chinese communist regime is operating at least three illegal police stations in Canada, threatening Chinese Canadians and even coercing some to return to China.
As we learn more, what is the government doing about these illegal Chinese communist-sponsored police stations, which constitute an assault on Canadian sovereignty?
Pam Damoff (Oakville North—Burlington, LPC)
Madam Speaker, protecting the public from the threat of foreign interference is precisely what Canadians have mandated this government to do. Our national security agencies are proactively working on threats from foreign bad actors, such as China. Any harassment, intimidation and coercion by a foreign power will be investigated, and appropriate charges will be laid.
Canadians can rest assured that we will make sure no stone is unturned in our efforts to protect public safety and security.
Question Period, November 3, 2022
Jean Yip (Scarborough—Agincourt, LPC)
Mr. Speaker, a Scarborough—Agincourt constituent recently emailed me because he was distressed after reading about alleged illegal Chinese police stations in Scarborough and Markham. These alleged police stations or administrative centres are used to exert pressure on Chinese nationals located in Canada. How can we reassure Canadians who feel intimidated or coerced?
Could the Minister of Public Safety provide an update on what actions are being taken?
Hon. Marco Mendicino (Eglinton—Lawrence, LPC)
Mr. Speaker, protecting the public from the threat of foreign interference is precisely what Canadians have mandated our government to do. I want to assure her and all members of this chamber that the RCMP are actively investigating these alleged so-called Chinese police stations. I also want to assure members that any harassment, intimidation or coercion by a foreign power will be investigated and appropriate charges will be pressed independently by police.
Finally, Canadians can rest assured that we will continue to make investments in our national security apparatus, which the Conservatives cut the last time, because we have—
Question Period, December 5, 2022
Hon. Michael Chong (Wellington—Halton Hills, CPC)
Mr. Speaker, the Indo-Pacific strategy says, with respect to Beijing, that the government will push back “against any form of foreign interference on Canadian soil”. It is time to put those words into action. Today we learned about another two illegal police stations being operated by Beijing on Canadian soil, on top of the three we learned about last October.
When will the government put the words of the Indo-Pacific strategy into action, push back and expel diplomats responsible for this outrageous violation of our sovereignty?
Hon. Marco Mendicino (Eglinton—Lawrence, LPC)
Mr. Speaker, I would have thought that my hon. colleague would be assured by the concrete action the RCMP is taking to root out allegations of foreign interference in this country as a means of protecting our national security.
I would have thought that my hon. colleague would be assured by the things we are doing around allegations of foreign interference, creating independent panels to assure the integrity of our elections and cracking down on foreign funding. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect our interests here and abroad.
Michael Cooper (St. Albert—Edmonton, CPC)
Mr. Speaker, was the Prime Minister briefed about Beijing's election interference involving 11 candidates? The Prime Minister has been repeatedly asked this question and he has not answered it. He hides behind carefully crafted words such as saying he was not briefed about candidates receiving money from China, but that is not the question.
When will the Prime Minister stop his stonewalling, stop his word parsing and tell us what he knows about Beijing's election interference?
Hon. Dominic LeBlanc (Beauséjour, LPC)
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been very transparent, as have all ministers in the government. Before the Conservatives were even interested in the real threat that foreign interference presents, the government took action. We took action in 2019. We renewed that action in 2021. We had a group of experts chaired by the Clerk of the Privy Council to examine these issues and assure Canadians that the election integrity was preserved.
We take this threat seriously and we are on the job.
Question Period, December 14, 2022
Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Carleton, CPC)
Mr. Speaker, there are now reports of Beijing-controlled police stations on Canadian soil. This, of course, would be a violation of international law. It is illegal for a foreign government to open a law enforcement office in another country without permission. The last we checked, there is no permission for that to happen.
My question to the Prime Minister is very simple: How many diplomats from Beijing involved in these police stations has he ordered expelled from Canada?
Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Papineau, LPC)
Mr. Speaker, foreign actors attempting to monitor, intimidate or threaten Canadians is completely unacceptable. The allegations detailed are concerning, which is why we will never tolerate threats to Canada's national security or to the safety of our citizens and residents.
The RCMP has announced that it is investigating these allegations, and I have asked officials to examine them very carefully. We will continue to work closely with our allies around the world to respond to illegal and unacceptable behaviour by authoritarian states like China.
Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Carleton, CPC)
Mr. Speaker, the question was “how many”.
There are reports of foreign-controlled police stations here in Canada. That is illegal. It is illegal for a foreign government to have police stations here in Canada. The Prime Minister has been aware of this situation for at least a month.
I will ask the question again. How many diplomats have been expelled from Canada since the Prime Minister learned of the existence of these police stations?
Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Papineau, LPC)
Mr. Speaker, the details of the allegations of interference are concerning. That is why we will never tolerate threats to Canada's national security or to the safety of our citizens and residents.
The RCMP has announced that it is investigating these allegations, and I have asked officials to keep a close watch on it.
The Chinese Canadian community is all too often the victim of foreign interference by China. We need to emphasize that Chinese Canadians continue to deliver extraordinary benefits to Canadians as proud Canadian citizens. We will continue to stand with the community that is the victim of interference, rather than perpetrators—
- Date modified: