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Public Safety

Question period focused on a memorandum of understanding Canada signed with China’s Ministry of Public Security. Conservatives, including Michael Chong and Adam Chambers, said the text of the MOU remains secret and argued that China abused a previous such agreement under Operation Fox Hunt, coercing some 25 Canadians to return to China, and pointed to foreign interference, intellectual property theft, the detention of the two Michaels, and alleged illegal police stations as reasons to release the documents. They also asked whether foreign interference would be raised in upcoming meetings. Liberal minister Anita Anand responded that Canada has signed such MOUs since 2010 on the advice of law enforcement and intelligence agencies and that these have historically not been made public, welcomed the visit of Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi as the first bilateral visit in nearly a decade, and said the government would engage with China on trade, the economy and global security while protecting Canada’s security, sovereignty and values, citing a foreign influence registry among steps taken to protect democracy.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Michael Chong

Conservative
“The government signed a secret deal with China's security agency. China abused a past deal to force about 25 Canadians to return to China. The government said China is Canada's greatest security threat. Will the government release the new deal to show China cannot force more people to return?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the text of the MOU signed by the Liberal government with Beijing’s Ministry of Public Security remains secret. Considering that Beijing abused the previous MOU signed by the Harper government, including by coercing some 25 Canadians to return to the PRC under Operation Fox Hunt and considering that a year ago, both the public inquiry into foreign interference and the Prime Minister said that Beijing presented the greatest threat to the security of Canada, will the Liberal government release the new MOU to assure Canadians Beijing will not coerce others to return to the PRC?

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Anita Anand

Liberal
“Canada has made private crime-fighting deals with China since 2010 on the advice of our police and intelligence agencies. I will meet with China's foreign minister to talk about shared interests, while protecting Canada's values and laws.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canada has entered into MOUs with China on combatting crime in varied forms since 2010. As has been the case historically, we have entered into these agreements on the advice of Canada’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and they have also not been released publicly. I look forward to meeting with China’s foreign minister and having a constructive exchange on areas of mutual interest. We will continue to uphold Canada’s values and the rule of law.

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Michael Chong

Conservative
“The government should release its agreement with Beijing's police ministry. I want to know if the minister will bring up Chinese foreign interference when she meets with China's foreign minister this week.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if Beijing’s foreign interference and transnational repression are the greatest threat to the security of Canada and if the government is confident about the MOU between itself and Beijing’s Ministry of Public Security, the government should simply release the MOU and let Canadians decide for themselves. Will the minister raise the issue of transnational repression and foreign interference when she meets with Foreign Minister Wang Yi this week?

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Anita Anand

Liberal
“China's foreign minister is visiting Canada for the first time in nearly ten years, and we welcome this visit. We will work with China on trade, the economy, and global security when it helps Canada, while always protecting our country's security and values.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, our government will always stand up for Canadians, protect our national interests and engage from a position of strength. We welcome the upcoming visit of Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, the first such bilateral visit to Canada in nearly a decade. We will also work with China where it advances Canada’s national interests, including on trade, economic stability and global security, while defending Canada’s sovereignty, security and values unequivocally.

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Adam Chambers

Conservative
“China acts against Canadian interests by stealing ideas, interfering in elections, and running illegal police stations here. I want the government to release its secret documents and deals with Beijing.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the minister wants us to believe that Beijing is just another benign trading partner, but Beijing’s actions have been hostile to Canadian interests even more than Washington’s. It supports the theft of Canadian IP, it has jailed the two Michaels, it interferes in our elections, it operates illegal police stations on Canadian soil and it has held our farmers hostage. Canadians have a right to know that our sovereignty has not been compromised and our citizens will be protected. If the government has nothing to hide, why will it not release the secret documents and arrangements it has made with Beijing?

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Anita Anand

Liberal
“I am meeting with China's foreign minister tomorrow. I will make sure we protect Canada's security, independence, and economy. Our government has already taken real steps to stop other countries from meddling in our democracy, including creating a registry to track foreign influence.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am going to reiterate that in these conversations, including my conversation with Minister Wang Yi tomorrow, we will ensure that the guardrails in place will continue protecting Canada’s security, protecting Canada’s sovereignty and ensuring Canada’s greatest economic resilience. Our government has taken concrete action to combat foreign interference, including establishing the foreign influence transparency registry and strengthening protections for Canadians and democratic—

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