Late Wednesday, a lawmaker announced that he would be stepping down as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’sLiberal Party member. This was in the wake of a media report raising questions about his dealings and contacts with China. The claim comes amid an investigation into Chinese interference in Canada’s elections.
Hang Dong, Member of Parliament, said that the anonymous source report was an attack on him and his loyalty towards Canada. To avoid problems with the Liberals, he said he would leave the Liberals to sit in Parliament as an autonomous lawmaker.
Global News published Wednesday’s report, citing unidentified security source, that Dong suggested to China’s consul general at Toronto 2021 that the opposition Conservative party would be benefited if Beijing released two Canadians convicted of espionage. Global didn’t give any quotes directly from the purported conversation.
In December 2018, Michael Kovrig (a Canadian diplomat) and Michael Spavor (an entrepreneur) were detained in China. This was widely believed to be an attempt to press Canada into releasing Meng Wanzhou the chief financial officer at Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies. At the request of U.S. officials, she was taken into custody in Vancouver. Two years later, China, the U.S.A and Canada executed a prisoner swap.
Global News spoke with Dong who represents a Parliament a Toronto district since 2019. He confirmed that he had spoken to the diplomat, but disagreed on the manner in which the conversation was described.
Late Wednesday, Dong delivered a tearful speech of resignation to his party in Parliament.
He stated, “Let’s be clear: What has been said is false and I will defend my self against this completely untrue claim.” Dong stated that he wanted “to assure Mr. Michael Spavor, Mr. Michael Kovrig, and their families that they did not cause any harm.”
Trudeau has recently appointed a special investigator to investigate allegations of Chinese interference in Canada’s recent two elections. Globe and Mail reported last month, citing unidentified intelligence officers, that China wanted Trudeau’s Liberals to win the 2021 election and had worked to defeat Conservative politicians seen as unfriendly to Beijing.
Opposition parties demand an investigation into the alleged Chinese interference.
Trudeau stated that all Canadian political leaders agreed that foreign interference did not affect the election results in 2021 and 2019. He has stated that, even if the result was not affected by foreign interference, it is troubling and serious.
Recently, a panel of civil servants issued a report stating that there were no foreign attempts to interfere with the election.
