Award-winning reporter and author Sam Cooper has left Global News months after his reporting revealed the extent of China’s interference in Canada’s elections.
In a post on his LinkedIn, Cooper wrote that his last day at the outlet was Friday and that he will be moving to start an international anti-corruption news outlet called The Bureau on Substack.
“After 17 years working with The Province, Vancouver Sun and Global News, and publishing a best-selling book on foreign interference in Canada, I have worked with supporters including an expert from the tech and angel investor space, to found an independent journalism platform, starting next week,” said Cooper.
“Many thanks to great colleagues at Global that worked with me on the groundbreaking (People’s Republic of China” interference files, launched last November…”
One of Canada's best investigative jouralists Mr Sam Cooper @scoopercooper is turning a new page in his exemplary career after tomorrow Friday.
— Kenny Chiu 🇺🇦 (@RmdKenny) June 8, 2023
I wish him all the best in his new endeavor. Keep on shinning lights into those dark corners! pic.twitter.com/vcNwsx3s6c
Cooper’s investigative work has covered China’s influence in large-scale money laundering in British Columbia, Canada’s fentanyl trafficking network and more.
“I have plans for building The Bureau into an international reporting channel and connecting with like minded journalists worldwide,” said Cooper.
According to Global News reports, Canadian intelligence officials had warned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that China had allegedly been funding a network of at least 11 mostly-Liberal federal candidates in the 2019 election.
Trudeau has since denied receiving any briefings on the matter and said Canadians alone determined the outcomes of the elections.
One of the reports by Global News alleged that while still with the Liberals, Independent MP Han Dong allegedly met with a Chinese diplomat to advise China against releasing Canadian Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.
Dong has since filed a lawsuit over the reports. In response, Global News has stood by its reports.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has called for an independent public inquiry into the matter, a demand which was turned down by Trudeau-appointed special rapporteur and former governor general David Johnston in his report last month.
In his report, Johnston disputed some of the claims made by opposition parties and security agencies.
He has since faced criticism for his connections to the Trudeau family and calls for him to step down from his role.
