Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly was not briefed on foreign interference conducted by China as she was focused on rebuilding ties with the country, the Foreign Interference Commission revealed.
Joly testified that she took office after the return of the two Michaels to Canada, emphasizing the need to establish a functional relationship with China. Despite taking office in the fall of 2021, she did not receive briefings on foreign interference or the threat landscape until leaks surfaced in the media.
The leaks led to pressure from opposition parties for an inquiry into the threat. One leak in the Globe and Mail resulted in the expulsion of Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei, who had targeted the family of Conservative MP Michael Chong.
Joly admitted that she was unaware of Zhao’s activities until the leak, describing the situation as untenable and necessitating his departure. Despite not being briefed on the matter, her department was actively engaging with China on issues of foreign interference.
Global Affairs Canada sent diplomatic notes to the Chinese embassy in Ottawa and made numerous representations to address foreign interference concerns. Joly acknowledged the importance of understanding how China operates in Canada and globally, leading to the creation of a China Bureau at Global Affairs.
The Foreign Interference Commission is continuing its investigation, with upcoming testimonies from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc. The commission aims to assess Ottawa’s ability to respond to foreign interference, following a previous examination of interference in recent elections.
A final report must be submitted by the end of the year.
