Chinese Canadians are more likely to believe that the Communist Chinese regime actively interfered in Canada’s elections than to doubt the allegations, according to a new poll.
In the Leger poll released on Thursday, 34% of Chinese Canadians said they believe Chinese state representatives pressured their community into promoting Chinese government objectives, whereas 27% doubted the allegations.
Belief was tied to the amount of time respondents spent living outside China, the report noted.
“Chinese Canadians who have immigrated to Canada less than ten years ago are almost twice as likely to agree [with] the allegations,” it said.
The group agreed as a majority (57%), while those who immigrated more than 10 years ago had less confidence (32%). Chinese Canadians born in Canada were least likely to think the foreign government was pressuring Canadians (30%).
Just more than 1-in-20 said they had personally experienced pressure from the Chinese government.
The survey comes after multiple national security officials reportedly leaked intelligence documents to the media, including reports that China interfered in multiple Canadian elections.
Earlier this month, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) officials reportedly told the Globe and Mail that Chinese state actors made concerted efforts to interfere in Vancouver’s 2022 mayoral election.
CSIS officials also reportedly told Global News that Chinese Canadians were coerced into voting for MP Han Dong – allegedly Beijing’s preferred candidate – during a candidacy race in the Don Valley North riding of Ontario.
Dong resigned from the Liberal caucus in March. The now independent MP has since threatened to take legal action against Global News.
