Minister Expresses Shock at Discovery of Deadly Viruses Shipped from Winnipeg Lab to Wuhan
Upon discovering that samples of dangerous Ebola and Nipah viruses had been sent from Canada’s high-security lab in Winnipeg to China, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc expressed shock similar to that of an MP who was also taken aback by the news.
Mr. LeBlanc responded, saying, “When I saw that report, my reaction was the same as yours.”
The minister directed Mr. Angus’ inquiry to the Public Health Agency of Canada, stating, “I don’t have any information, but my reaction mirrored yours, Mr. Angus.”
Mr. LeBlanc, who took on the role of public safety minister in July 2023, previously served as minister of intergovernmental affairs starting in July 2018.
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The request for virus shipment was initiated by Ms. Qiu at NML. The approval for the shipments was eventually granted by NML management.
Ms. Qiu and Mr. Cheng, who are married, were removed from NML in July 2019 while under RCMP investigation. They were dismissed from their roles on Jan. 20, 2021, due to undisclosed ties to Chinese regime entities.
In 2021, NML management justified the virus sample shipment to the Wuhan lab in response to a letter from the Chinese lab, indicating they were needed for research on the viruses’ characteristics and the development of antiviral treatments, following proper protocols.
The documents indicate that Ms. Qiu discussed the Ebola and Nipah shipment with WIV staff in July 2018, suggesting a formal agreement was unnecessary since “no one owns the IP.” She preferred an informal approach over a formal agreement.
The documents also reveal that Ms. Qiu participated in a project at WIV involving Ebola research, and some of the virus strains sent from NML were designated for this project. Ms. Qiu requested that her Canadian superiors remain unaware of the project, as WIV was in the process of requesting virus transfers from NML.
The WIV was engaged in synthetic biology studies on the deadly Nipah virus, according to a US scientist’s testimony. Synthetic biology entails modifying biological entities and systems.
Chinese Talent Recruitment
During the committee meeting on April 15, Mr. LeBlanc acknowledged details from declassified documents revealing Ms. Qiu’s involvement in China’s Thousand Talents Program, which was identified by US authorities as a mechanism for China to access foreign technologies to advance its own goals.
“It is evident that individuals from a Chinese-sponsored recruitment effort were engaged at the Winnipeg lab,” Mr. LeBlanc remarked. “These programs are known tactics for China to exploit advancements in Canadian technology, damaging our national interests.”
He declined to address concerns raised by Conservative MP Michael Cooper regarding the delay in removing Ms. Qiu from NML, stating that the matter should be directed to the health minister responsible for the Public Health Agency of Canada, overseeing NML operations.
Although concerns were raised in 2018, the individuals were not dismissed until three years later.
Omid Ghoreishi and Noé Chartier contributed to this report
