Elections Canada has stated that it cannot definitively refute claims made by former MP Leona Alleslev (Aurora-Oak Ridges, Ont.) regarding the involvement of Chinese Communist Party agents as poll workers during the 2021 federal election. Blacklock's Reporter says Alleslev, who served as an MP for two terms, submitted a sworn affidavit claiming she received numerous complaints from Chinese Canadian voters who expressed fear of voting due to the alleged presence of these agents.“It would be impossible for us to make any kind of determination with certainty,” Elections Canada noted in a statement. The agency emphasized the importance of transparency in the electoral process, highlighting that safeguards are in place at every stage. “All poll workers sign a solemn declaration that they will be non-partisan while working at an election and protect the secrecy of the vote,” Elections Canada added, pointing out that the primary role of poll workers is to facilitate orderly voting.However, the agency acknowledged that it does not conduct background checks on volunteers and could not confirm if Communist Party agents had infiltrated polls in the Aurora-Oak Ridges riding. According to an Elections Canada guide, poll workers are required to demonstrate basic literacy skills and the ability to work long hours, but no specific vetting for political affiliations is mentioned.Alleslev, who lost her re-election bid to Liberal MP Leah Taylor Roy by 1,460 votes, detailed in her affidavit that many of her Chinese Canadian constituents expressed fear of voting, worried about potential repercussions from Chinese authorities. “Around half the Chinese Canadian constituents she canvassed would tell Ms. Alleslev they were afraid to vote for her because they feared repercussions against themselves or their family members both in Canada and in China,” the affidavit stated.The affidavit also alleges that some constituents believed Chinese Communist Party agents were either working within local Elections Canada offices or monitoring polling stations to see who voted. Despite these concerns, Alleslev did not report them to Elections Canada, citing a lack of responsiveness from the agency on other issues. Instead, she reported the concerns to the Conservative Party, which later identified her riding among 13 with reported irregularities during the election.
