Newly-appointed Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters on Wednesday that calling for a judicial inquiry into alleged election fraud by Chinese agents is a “complicated” matter. .According to Blacklock’s Reporter, it has been almost five months since all MPs, except for the Liberal caucus, voted in favour of an independent investigation..“The prime minister asked me in June to work with opposition parties to look at next steps,” said LeBlanc. He was “optimistic about that work,” added LeBlanc..“What exactly is the hold-up?” asked a reporter. .“I don’t think there is a hold-up,” replied LeBlanc..“It’s a complicated undertaking,” said LeBlanc..“It’s not a simple undertaking, but the good news is we’ve made enormous progress together. We had conversations earlier this week. I’m hoping to have conversations again later this week and I hope to have something important to announce with my colleagues as soon as possible.”.The cabinet has been accused by opposition MPs of intentionally delaying an inquiry supported by the House of Commons in three different votes on March 2, March 23, and May 31..“We want them to end the cover-up,” Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre said on June 11. .“Call a public inquiry.”.So far, Canada has kicked out one Chinese spy trying to gather information on the family members of two MPs, Conservative Michael Chong (Wellington-Halton Hills, ON) and New Democrat Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, BC)..The cabinet has also admitted that they did not take action on a warning from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service before the 2021 election. The warning said that Chinese agents were active in federal ridings..“I have received threats I believe may be related to the People’s Republic of China and I will just leave it at that,” Chong testified on May 16 at the House Affairs committee..“That explains the meetings I had with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.”.“One of the incidents involved something that happened in the last federal election campaign,” said Chong. .“The other incidents were outside the federal election campaign and involved threats sent to me regarding the People’s Republic of China and my travel outside the country.”.David Johnston, former “special rapporteur” to the prime minister on alleged election fraud, testified on June 6 at the House Affairs committee that there were “clearly strange practices” in a 2019 Liberal nomination meeting won by MP Han Dong (Don Valley North, ON). .“With respect to the nomination meeting, there clearly were strange practices, unusual practices going on,” testified Johnston. .Dong has confessed to having frequent communication with the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa and the consulate in Toronto..Another MP, Conservative Kenny Chiu (Steveston-Richmond, BC), blamed his defeat in the 2021 election on “a coordinated attack against me and my Party” in Chinese-language media. .“My country did not protect me from foreign interference,” Chiu testified on May 10 at the House Affairs committee.
