Conservative MPs Kenny Chiu and Michael Chong, and NDP MP Jenny Kwan, testified Wednesday at Canada's public inquiry about alleged Chinese Communist Party interference in the 2021 general election.
Former Conservative MP says he was 'drowning' in Chinese election misinformation | National Post | Catherine Lévesque:
Apr 03, 2024 - "Former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu said he did not feel protected by the federal government when he was 'drowning' under alleged Chinese foreign interference that cost him his seat in the 2021 election. At the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference Wednesday, Chiu spoke at length about the growing concerns during the election campaign that he was 'anti-Chinese' and how Chinese-Canadian voters in his riding turned against him out of fear in the lead-up to voting day....
“'I thought I would be protected by my country,' he said. 'And I was deeply troubled and disappointed that I was exposed, and the government didn’t seem to care. And now that, through the commission, I’ve learned that they’ve known all about it'....
"Chiu said his team began noticing weeks before the election that Chinese language social media labelled him as a 'race traitor' and a white supremacist, and that articles circulating were saying discrimination against Chinese-Canadians would increase if he were re-elected in Steveston—Richmond East in B.C. Voters who had supported him in the 2019 election and put signs on their lawns would not speak to him anymore or were shutting the doors in his face, he recounted.
"Chiu was criticized for having tabled a bill to create a foreign agent registry to ensure more transparency on involvement by state actors, which prompted the narrative that he was anti-China or anti-Chinese. And when he attempted to correct misinformation, either with videos on YouTube or with press conferences, he was repeatedly ignored by Chinese-language media outlets. One radio station owner had allegedly instructed staff not to invite Chiu onto their programs. Chiu ultimately lost his riding.... Chiu said his share of the vote decreased by eight percentage points, which was contrary to trends across the country that showed increases in total votes for the Conservatives....
"Other elected officials have been targeted for speaking out against China or being critical of the regime. NDP MP Jenny Kwan told the inquiry she started noticing more fear and apprehension from her constituents over the last five years, starting in 2019. She said senior citizens were afraid of supporting her and feared repercussions for themselves and their families if they did so. Kwan also said she started being excluded from events in her own riding or was simply not acknowledged if she was present....
"Conservative MP Michael Chong revealed at the inquiry that he received a 'veiled threat' in an email purporting to be from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs ahead of the 2019 election warning him he was barred from entering Chinese territory. And during a virtual all-candidates’ debate in the 2021 campaign in a tight-knit rural community in his riding of Wellington—Halton Hills, an individual with what Chong described as a Mandarin accent spoke up to accuse Chong of contributing to the rise of anti-Chinese racism and discrimination in Canada. 'After the debate, we asked around if anybody had ever seen or heard of this individual. And to this date, no one has a clue who this individual or person is,' said Chong.
"Former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole also testified Wednesday, arguing that Chinese foreign interference could have influenced up to nine ridings in the 2021 election and ultimately contributed to his ouster as leader of the party a few months later."
Former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu scrums at foreign interference inquiry | cpac | April 3, 2024:
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