Conservative MP called out for 'shameful' comment to Joly during foreign interference hearing

Liberal and NDP MPs are calling out Conservative MP Michael Cooper over what they described as a 'shameful' and 'completely unacceptable' comment he made to Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly during a hearing on foreign interference.

Liberal and NDP MPs are calling out Conservative MP Michael Cooper over what they described as a "shameful" and "completely unacceptable" comment he made to Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly during a hearing on foreign interference.

"You've talked tough. You've talked tough with your Beijing counterpart, so you say. You even stared into his eyes, I'm sure he was very intimidated," said Cooper in questioning Joly during a combative and intense meeting of the Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC) on Thursday.

Joly and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc were there to testify at the request of the committee, as part of its ongoing study into foreign election interference.

Cooper's comment was in reference to something the minister of foreign affairs said earlier in the meeting about a recent conversation she had with her Chinese counterpart Qin Gang. 

"I was extremely clear. I looked at him in the eyes and said to him 'first we will never tolerate any form of foreign interference… in our democracy and internal affairs, and second we will never tolerate any form of breach of our sovereignty.' And, and so that is why I think it's important to have these tough discussions. They're not something that we like doing, but I think it's necessary for Canadians," Joly said.

Cooper’s remark prompted an immediate request from the committee chair to "be mindful" about his approach and giving witnesses time to answer questions.

Responding, Joly said: "Well, Mr. Cooper, you would know China because you went to China as a parliamentarian in the past. And so therefore, I think you would understand that when we fall into too much partisanship, we're falling into China's trap."