Judge Marie-Josée Hogue, chair of the Foreign Interference Inquiry, has rejected Conservative Party requests for full attendance at future hearings, leading human rights groups to limit the status of three men accused of ties to China. The Union’s petition was also rejected. government.
In a nine-page decision posted online, Hogue said the Human Rights Coalition would grant full status to Markham Deputy Mayor Michael Chan, independent MP Handong, a former Liberal Party member, and senator Yuen Pau Oo. He pointed out that he was against granting the . Support for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). ”
“Their participation in hearings and access to confidential information shared by witnesses and victims will allow them to provide first-hand accounts of foreign interference and cross-border repression by the Chinese Communist Party. “They say it prevents them from speaking freely about information,” she said.
He said the coalition would limit support for Chan and Dong to the issue of alleged Chinese interference in the 2019 and 2021 general elections, and bar them from accessing other witness testimony and other party documents. He said he asked for it.
He said the coalition government “has not specifically explained what kind of relief it is seeking regarding Sen. Wu’s position.”
Hogue insisted that the commission is an independent and impartial body and “cannot make factual findings or jump to conclusions before hearing evidence”.
The commission also announced that the first public hearing will be held over five days starting January 29, 2024, and will hear from both factual witnesses and renowned experts.
“These hearings are preliminary in that they help prepare for the next hearing in which the committee considers substantive issues arising from its mandate,” Hogue wrote.
The committee also requested that the first public report be released by May 3, rather than February, to allow enough time for public hearings.
Dong joined the Liberal Party in March following reports in February 2021 that he advised a senior Chinese diplomat to delay the release of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were detained by China at the time. He left the party caucus and took his seat as an independent. . He denied the allegations and said he wanted to return to the Liberal Party.
Global also claimed in a previous article that the Liberal government had been warned by CSIS about Mr. Dong’s proximity to Beijing, and that Mr. Chan, a former Ontario MP and cabinet minister, was a target of CSIS.
Both men deny all charges. Mr Dong has also said he wants to return to the Liberal Party and is suing Global News.
CBC News has contacted both men for comment.
Critics have accused Wu of taking pro-Beijing stances on a range of issues, including voting in the Senate against China’s treatment of the Uyghurs as genocide. .
Asked for comment by CBC News before the appeal court’s decision was handed down, he said: “This wild claim, despite little or no evidence, raises concerns about the stigmatization of Canadians.” “It highlights the importance of an investigation that listens.”
Conservative Party once again refuses to stand up
The Secretary’s decision marks the federal Conservative Party’s second application to stand for the seat after it was initially rejected in early December.
At the time, Ms Hogue argued that the Conservatives could participate through intervener status, which would give them the right to make proposals based on what she called a more “general interest” against foreign interference. Ta.
She also warned of the danger of politicizing the process by giving full standing to the opposition. Her status is still given to the federal government.
“There is a difference between the government of the day and the party that controls the House of Commons,” she wrote.
“It is important that the commission of inquiry remains an independent forum, separate from the political process.”
The Conservative Party said in a statement that Mr Hogue’s latest decision was “deeply concerning” and “undermines the credibility of the entire process”.
“The Trudeau government is not a neutral, nonpartisan organization and will naturally represent the interests of the Liberal Party,” wrote Sébastien Skamski, media director for Conservative leader Pierre Poièvre.
He also wrote that “going ahead and naming the Conservative Party to warn about partisanship suggests bias.”
Mr Hogue confirmed Conservative MP Michael Chong’s full candidacy, citing a separate application and the Globe and Mail that cited “multiple disinformation campaigns”. Reports in May last year claimed that Chinese diplomats sought information about him and his family in Hong Kong because of public statements condemning human rights abuses by the Chinese government.
The commission announced that it will soon publish a list of specific witnesses for the hearing.
Mehmet Tofti, executive director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, said he was disappointed with the commission’s decision.
URAP is one of the organizations that make up the Human Rights Coalition, which launched this appeal.
“This process is dead to me,” Tofti told CBC News.
“If these people are given full access to all classified information and privileges to cross-examine witnesses, then that’s already crossed the line, because we don’t want opposition members to have that privilege. Because you haven’t given it.”
“We are very concerned about the Secretary’s decision to award these three positions,” said Gloria Fung, president of Canada-Hong Kong Link. She said the hearing should be a “safe place” for witnesses.
