A former intelligence chief told MPs at the House of Commons ethics committee that elected officials at all levels of government are in the pocket of Communist China or other foreign governments.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, former Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) chief of the Asia-Pacific desk Michel Juneau-Katsuya revealed that the foreign interference reaches all the way into the federal government. Juneau-Katsuya made the admission during an investigation into the RCMP’s use of spyware on Canadian MPs.
“We had to monitor parliamentarians. There are elected officials at all levels whether it’s municipal, provincial or federal who are being paid by foreign governments and who are not necessarily acting in the interests of Canada,” said Juneau-Katsuya.
The former intelligence chief was tightlipped on how many politicians were working with foreign states or who they were but did reveal that the practice was ongoing.
“It is still happening. Foreign agents try to recruit elected officials. It’s fairly easy because elected officials don’t necessarily listen to security guidelines to protect themselves.”
Juneau-Katsuya also had concerns about elected officials who go on to work for foreign firms that work against Canada’s interests after leaving public office.
“What we know for sure is we have various foreign countries that succeeded in recruiting elected officials – again, municipal, provincial or federal – and were capable of influencing this way,” said Juneau-Katsuya.
“We see that also, when we see at the end of their mandate, cabinet ministers going to work for a foreign company that works directly against national security and the national interests of Canada.”
In 2021, the federal government directly named China as the main culprit in conducting foreign interference on Canadian soil.
“The Government of Canada is aware foreign states including the People’s Republic of China or its proxies may attempt to harass, threaten and intimidate Canadians, persons residing in Canada or their families in Canada or abroad, particularly Chinese diaspora or ethno-cultural communities,” a submission to the Commons foreign affairs subcommittee read.
Questions have arised about whether the Liberal government is doing enough to combat Chinese espionage. Last year, it was also reported that foreign agents are freely harassing and threatening Chinese dissidents in Canada.
