MISSISSAUGA, ONT.—Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called the Liberal government’s proposed legislation to counter foreign interference “a step in the right direction” but emphasized the need for further action, including addressing the issue of Chinese police stations in Canada.
In early May, the government introduced
Bill C-70, which establishes a foreign agent registry and other measures to combat foreign interference in Canada. The Conservatives have voiced their support for the bill and are calling for its swift passage.
In a press conference in Mississauga on May 31, Mr. Poilievre described the proposed legislation as “a decent bill,” highlighting that it will enable authorities to monitor individuals paid by foreign powers to disrupt Canadian institutions and safeguard against interference from unfriendly regimes like Beijing’s. Despite this, he stressed that more proactive measures are necessary.
“I don’t think it’s enough,” Mr. Poilievre remarked, noting the country’s need for a stronger intelligence framework and urging the RCMP to take more decisive steps.
“We need, frankly, new leadership at the RCMP to put a stop to the Beijing-controlled police stations on Canadian soil,” he added.
The operation of covert Chinese police stations abroad was exposed in 2022 following reports by the Spain-based human rights NGO Safeguard Defenders. It identified 102 undisclosed Chinese police stations in 53 countries, including several in Toronto and Vancouver. The RCMP subsequently launched investigations into two organizations in the Montreal region suspected of hosting these stations. While U.S. authorities have
arrested individuals and laid charges in connection to a secret police station in New York City, no arrests have been made in Canada thus far.
Mr. Poilievre reiterated his
previous commitment to ban Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and classify it as a “banned terrorist organization.”
Expedite Bill’s Passage
Mr. Poilievre highlighted the Conservatives’ collaboration with the Liberals in expediting Bill C-70.
The NDP have
opposed the Tories’ motion to fast-track passage by June 12, accusing them of introducing terms not previously agreed upon in “bad faith.” Tory House Leader Andrew Scheer proposed continuing discussions “off-line” to understand the NDP’s objections to setting a deadline for passing the bill. However, NDP House Leader Peter Julian suggested a motion almost identical to the Tories’, but it did not receive unanimous consent due to the deadline and certain clauses.
Despite disagreements, Bill C-70 passed its second reading and moved to the public safety committee for examination. The committee held its inaugural meeting on May 30 with representatives from the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Justice, and CSIS.
Conservative MP Larry Brock, present at the May 31 press conference with Mr. Poilievre, expressed reservations regarding the timeline for implementing the foreign influence registry under Bill C-70, questioning whether the tool would be operational before the next election. He cited officials from the Department of Public Safety who
testified before the House of Commons public safety committee on May 30, stating that once the legislation is passed, it would take an additional year for the registry to be functional.
Mr. Brock also referenced the findings of Foreign Interference Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue, who concluded that while foreign interference did not alter the overall outcome of the 2019 and 2021 elections, it still had an impact on the election environment. Ms. Hogue has been tasked with investigating allegations of potential meddling by Beijing and other foreign entities in the two federal elections, releasing her preliminary findings in an
interim report on May 3.
“While the ultimate results of the elections were not affected, it’s undeniable that certain ridings were significantly influenced by foreign interference,” Mr. Brock stated. “We want to equip our security agencies with the necessary tools to effectively combat this.”
Noé Chartier contributed to this report.
