Judge rejects appeals by Conservatives, human rights groups on foreign interference probe
CBC
Foreign interference inquiry commissioner Justice Marie-Josée Hogue has rejected the Conservative Party's request for full standing in upcoming public hearings, and has turned down a plea by a coalition of human-rights groups to limit the standing of three men accused of ties to the Chinese government.
In her nine-page decision, posted online, Hogue noted the Human Rights Coalition opposed granting full standing to independent MP Han Dong — a former Liberal MP — Markham's deputy mayor Michael Chan and Sen. Yuen Pau Woo, because of their "possible links and support for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)."
"They argue that the participation of these three individuals in hearings and their access to sensitive information shared by witnesses or victims will deter witnesses from speaking freely about their firsthand experience and information regarding foreign interference and transnational repression by the CCP," she said.
She said the coalition asked that standing for Chan and Dong be limited to the issue of their alleged participation in Chinese interference in the general elections of 2019 and 2021, and that they be barred from accessing other witnesses' testimony or documents from other parties.
She said the coalition "does not specifically explain what recourse it seeks with respect to the standing of Senator Woo."
Hogue argued the commission is an independent and impartial body and she "cannot make findings of fact or jump to conclusions before hearing the evidence."
The commission also announced its first public hearings will take place over a period of five days starting January 29, 2024, and it will hear from both factual witnesses and recognized experts.
"These hearings are preliminary in that they will serve to prepare the next public hearings, at which the Commission will examine the substantive issues arising from its mandate." Hogue wrote.
The commission also has requested a later deadline for the release of its first public report — May 3 instead of of February, to give itself enough time for public hearings.
Dong left the Liberal caucus in March to sit as an Independent after a story published by Global News alleged that he advised a senior Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that Beijing should delay freeing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, two Canadians China was holding prisoner at the time. He has denied the allegations and said he wants to rejoin the Liberal Party.
Global also alleged in a prior story that the Liberal government received warnings from CSIS about Dong's proximity to Beijing, and that Chan, a former Ontario MPP and cabinet minister, was a CSIS target.
Both men have denied all allegations. Dong also has said he wants to rejoin the Liberal Party and is also suing Global News.
CBC News has reached out to both men for comment.
Critics have accused Sen. Woo of taking pro-Beijing stances on various issues, including his vote in the Senate against labelling China's treatment of Uyghurs as an act of genocide.
This First Person column is the experience of Shannon Flaman, who lives in Red Deer, Alta. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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