MP Kevin Vuong, who himself was targeted by the Chinese regime, highlights the extensive meddling of Beijing in Canada according to a recent report from the foreign interference inquiry. Despite this, questions remain regarding the government’s actions to address this interference.
“Now let’s see if the government will do anything,” stated Mr. Vuong, Independent MP for Spadina—Fort York in Toronto, in an interview with The Epoch Times.
As the son of refugees who escaped Vietnam during the war, Mr. Vuong is well aware of the dangers posed by communist regimes. His family, being ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs in Vietnam, faced persecution under the communists.
His grandfather and uncle were both imprisoned for political reasons but were eventually released with the help of U.S. forces and allies. Mr. Vuong’s parents settled in Toronto, where he was born in 1989.
“Canada welcomed my parents as refugees at a time when other countries were closing their borders,” he recalls.
Mr. Vuong joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a reserve officer to give back to the country that provided his family with refuge.
With a bachelor’s degree in finance from Western University and a law-related master’s degree from the University of Toronto, Mr. Vuong held various consulting roles and university lecturer positions before starting his own consulting and small-scale manufacturing businesses.
He also actively participated in community organizations such as the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy, the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto’s board of directors, and the Mishkaowjiwan Foundation.
In 2020, he was appointed as Canada’s NATO 2030 Young Leader, where he was one of 13 young representatives tasked with proposing ideas for the alliance’s future agenda.
Mr. Vuong’s political journey began when he ran for his condo board after moving to downtown Toronto at age 22. Despite an unsuccessful bid for Toronto city council in 2018, he continued to pursue opportunities in politics.
In 2021, the Liberals approached him to run in the Toronto riding of Spadina-Fort York after the incumbent MP decided not to run. However, his political career took a turn due to allegations of sexual assault in an article published just before the 2021 federal election.
Despite winning the election as an Independent, Mr. Vuong faced controversy surrounding the allegations. He maintains that the accusations were part of a setup to sabotage his political career.
Mr. Vuong’s version of the events contradicts the allegations, stating that he dated the woman briefly in 2019 before being invited to her home to hang out, where the incident occurred.
Vuong describes the sequence of events leading up to the accusation of sexual assault against him. He initially offered his help to a woman, who declined, but allowed him to stay at her home overnight due to the cold weather. However, he was later awakened by another woman he did not know, who told him to leave. He called a Lyft and departed as instructed.
Mr. Vuong expresses his disappointment at not being able to defend himself in court and clear his name. He believes the timing of the accusation, right before an election, was suspicious. He speculates that foreign actors, possibly from non-democratic countries like China, may have been involved in orchestrating the incident to tarnish his reputation.
He highlights the concept of a “honey trap” as a potential method used to compromise individuals for political or intelligence purposes. He points to examples of such traps being used by countries like the Soviet Union and the Chinese Communist Party to influence targets. He suggests that his outspoken views on democracy and human rights may have made him a target for such tactics.
Mr. Vuong reflects on the impact of the accusations and media scrutiny on his family, particularly his wife, Elizabeth. He praises her unwavering support during the challenging times and credits her for helping him cope with the situation. The couple is now expecting their first child, which Mr. Vuong sees as a “blessing in disguise” amidst the turmoil.
Despite the hardships he has faced, Mr. Vuong remains resilient and determined to navigate through the political attacks and personal struggles with the support of his loved ones.
Vuong has been vocal about various policy issues that diverge from the governing Liberals, the party he once represented. This includes advocating for the removal of the carbon tax, designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, and calling for a stronger stance on the CCP and anti-Semitism.
Reflecting on his decision to no longer align with his former party, Vuong considers it a “blessing in disguise” as it allows him to champion the values he holds dear.
He expressed interest in potentially joining the Conservative Party, although the Tories have not yet commented on this possibility. Winning re-election as an Independent or Conservative in his riding, now known as Spadina-Harbourfront, could pose a challenge given its historical Liberal and NDP stronghold.
When it comes to foreign interference, Vuong acknowledges the government’s initial steps with the introduction of Bill C-70, which establishes a foreign agent registry and grants CSIS the ability to inform non-federal entities about threats. Despite this progress, he believes more action is necessary.
“While the foreign agent registry is a step in the right direction, it is something we have been advocating for for years,” Vuong stated. “I am eager to see how the government will respond to effectively tackle this issue.”
