National Security Advisor Jody Thomas stated on Thursday that she was on vacation and did not read a confidential memo dated July 20, 2021, which warned about Chinese agents targeting a Conservative MP before the last election. . Michael ChongMichael Chong .During her testimony at the House Affairs committee, Thomas emphasized that the “integrity of my statements here” should not be doubted..“I was the only one in the department who could read it, but it wasn’t necessary for me to function as the deputy minister of Defence,” said Thomas. .“There is a difference there.”.Thomas, one of three deputy ministers, received a CSIS memo warning that Chinese agents targeted Conservative MP Michael Chong (Wellington-Halton Hills, ON). The memo resulted in the expulsion of spy Zhao Wei from the Chinese consulate in Toronto on May 8..According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Thomas stated that she was on a month-long vacation starting July 20, 2021, and never saw the memo. She confirmed that the memo was destroyed without being read..The Conservative MP Michael Cooper (St. Albert-Edmonton, AB) mentioned that the memo was written shortly before the Aug. 15, 2021, election call by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau..“That was a month before the federal election campaign involving allegations of interference targeting democratically elected Members of Parliament,” said Cooper. .“If that doesn’t get to the prime minister, then what does?”.“This is a very significant memo,” said Cooper. .“The information contained in it ultimately resulted in a diplomat being expelled from Canada.”.“It went to three deputy ministers plus the prime minister’s national security advisor and that happened in 2021 and it went nowhere?” asked Cooper..“That is correct,” replied Thomas..“You want Canadians to believe that?” asked Cooper..“I don’t think the integrity of my statements here and what I said to Mr. Chong are in question. It is absolute fact that the memo was distributed and it was not briefed to the prime minister,” replied Thomas..“Was it shared with any ministers?” asked Cooper..“Not that I am aware of,” replied Thomas..“Well, you were a deputy minister?” asked Cooper..“I was. I was on leave in July 2021 when it was sent to my office, and when I got back, I focused on Afghanistan. It was not put in front of me,” replied Thomas..“So, who did it go to in your office?” asked Cooper..“No one,” replied Thomas..“It went into a black hole?” asked Cooper..“Right,” replied Thomas..“That is your answer?” asked Cooper..“I was not briefed. I told you there was a flaw in the process…” replied Thomas..“Do you agree the failure to alert Michael Chong that he and his family were a target of the Beijing regime was a serious failure? Will you at least concede that point?” asked Cooper..“I acknowledge Mr. Chong should have been told,” replied Thomas..“Who ultimately is responsible for this failure?” asked Cooper..“There is no one person. There is no single point of failure,” replied Thomas..New Democrat MP Rachel Blaney (North Island-Powell River, BC) said the claim that summer holidays caused the security lapse was troubling. “Is that not an issue of security in itself?” asked Blaney..The prime minister and cabinet have repeatedly said they first learned of threats by foreign agents after reading a May 1 account in the Globe and Mail newspaper. Chinese agent Zhao was ordered to leave the country after the Commons voted on May 8 to “expel China diplomats responsible for and involved in affronts to Canadian democracy.”
