Concerns Regarding Foreign Interference and Attempts to Influence MPs

International Support for Uyghurs (ISU) is writing to you, to bring to your attention some serious concerns regarding foreign interference, particularly by officials from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
It has come to light through Canadian security agencies and the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference (PIFI) that Chinese officials attempted to influence Canadian MPs to vote against a 2021 motion condemning China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities as genocide. Although the motion passed unanimously, there were subsequent efforts by the PRC to “build profiles” on MPs who supported the motion. This research likely informed the PRC’s decision to impose sanctions on some MPs and may have driven other actions aimed at undermining Canadian sovereignty.
During testimony this week, Conservative MP Michael Chong expressed serious concerns about how these incidents have been handled. He noted that Canadian intelligence services had knowledge of foreign interference targeting him and his family for two years, yet he was not informed until 2023, following media reports. He called the government’s handling of such threats “gross negligence” and emphasized the need for greater transparency and information-sharing with MPs, so they can better protect themselves and the democratic institutions they represent.
We share our concerns about the severity of these revelations and the implications they have for the integrity of our democratic processes and to report the Uyghur genocide to the Parliament. We urge you to advocate for stronger measures to ensure that parliamentarians are fully informed and equipped to address foreign interference threats. We urge you to report the Uyghur genocide and take severe action quickly against China’s attempt to threaten Canadian MPs.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Source: https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/china-tried-to-influence-mps-to-vote-against-uyghur-genocide-motion