The Liberal Party has appointed a new candidate in Don Valley North, Ont., bypassing a nomination vote in a riding at the center of foreign interference investigations.
Blacklock's Reporter says former MP Han Dong, who previously represented the riding, voiced disappointment over the decision.
"I am disappointed not to be part of this important campaign," Dong said in a statement. "As many know, I had no choice but to leave the Liberal caucus two years ago to try to clear my name."
The Party named Maggie Chi, a Liberal aide, as its candidate without explanation, announcing the decision at 8:50 p.m. Eastern on Saturday night.
Federal investigations into covert activities by Chinese Communist Party agents had focused on a 2019 nomination meeting won by Dong, who acknowledged frequent contact with the Chinese Consulate in Toronto.
Evidence indicated an unidentified donor arranged for Chinese foreign students attending high school outside the riding to be bused in for the vote, a move that Dong’s campaign manager called irregular.
At the time, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service had Dong under surveillance.
Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, leading the Commission on Foreign Interference, identified Don Valley North in her January 28 Final Report as one of several ridings where "foreign interference could have impacted certain riding results."
Dong resigned from the Liberal caucus in 2023 after Global News revealed his frequent communication with Chinese diplomats.
On November 18, the Prime Minister’s Office stated it had too many unanswered questions and ultimately blocked Dong’s appointment to the Commons Special Committee on Canada-China Relations. Political aides did not clarify why Dong remained in caucus for four years.
"A primary example of observed foreign interference was the Liberal Party nomination race in Don Valley North," wrote Justice Hogue.
She noted that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in his testimony, said he had a "binary choice: remove Mr. Dong or leave him in place." Trudeau testified that after allowing Dong to continue as the Party’s candidate, "this was a matter we would have to revisit."
Azam Ishmael, national director of the Liberal Party, testified on September 20 that he had been informed of security concerns surrounding the 2019 nomination meeting.
"I was briefed about a concern the Canadian Security Intelligence Service had," he said.
During questioning at the Commission, counsel asked Ishmael if he was aware of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s concerns regarding foreign interference in Dong’s nomination. "I am not exactly sure what I can reveal about the briefing itself," he replied.
When pressed on whether the Liberal Party had been a victim of foreign interference, Ishmael responded, "That’s an interesting question. I don’t have all the information available to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. I don’t know. I don’t know."