Former CSIS, RCMP investigators call for inquiry into Buddhist monks, nuns' Chinese connections
‘I personally have not seen anything to prove that these claims are true': Buddhist monk Eli Kingston
About 250 people packed into the P.E.I Convention Centre in Charlottetown Sunday to hear questions about Buddhist monks and nuns living in the eastern part of the province — with many there calling for a public inquiry into the groups' possible connections to the Chinese government.
About 700 monks of the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS) and about 600 nuns from the Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute (GWBI) call the Island home.
Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former CSIS intelligence officer, is one of the authors of the book Canada Under Siege: How P.E.I. became a forward operating base for the Chinese Communist Party. The book is co-authored by Garry Clement, who is a former national director of the RCMP's proceeds of crime program.
Juneau-Katsuya says it's time, based on their investigation, for the federal or provincial government to call a public inquiry. He also wants to see the RCMP launch an investigation.
"If you have honest MLAs, they cannot deny that there is something that has been going on for decades," Juneau-Katsuya said in an interview with CBC News.
'Identify what needs to be fixed'
"The public inquiry will exactly identify what needs to be fixed," said Juneau-Katsuya. "There's a myriad of things that can be done by establishing policy, rules, regulations, how the cabinet functions, how people are vetting during the procurement process, how people coming from abroad to establish themselves here will be sort of vetted."
Four Buddhist monks sat at the back of the room, closely watching the documentary Game of Shadows — which follows Juneau-Katsuya and Clement from Ottawa to Washington and from P.E.I. to Taipei.
By times, the monks leaned forward, eyes glued to the two big screens in the front of the room, watching intently.
Eli Kingston, one of the monks in attendance, said he didn't hear anything in the documentary that he hasn't heard before — and added that anyone who suspects illegal activity should reach out to the RCMP.
'Nothing to raise any suspicion'
"I've been in the monastery for over a decade now, 12 years. I'm in charge for quite a lot of matters with the monastery, and in every meeting, every board meeting, anything like that I've been involved with, I have nothing to raise any suspicion," said Kingston, who was born and raised in P.E.I.
"No one's ever come to me and asked me to do things that are outside of my comfort zone ... I personally have not seen anything to prove that these claims are true."
Joe Donahoe, who lives in Uigg near the Buddhist nuns, was at the book and documentary launch Sunday.
Donahoe also wants a public inquiry and is urging the P.E.I. government to put a halt to all land sales to the Buddhists until that investigation is complete.
'It has to have some teeth'
"A lot of the properties, the prices are driven sky-high and I can never see any of my children returning to the Island to own property in the Town of Three Rivers for sure, because they can't afford it," Donahoe said.
Russell Compton of Belfast, who is featured in the documentary, echoed the call for a public inquiry.
"If we have an inquiry, it has to have some teeth, it really does," said Compton, the husband of Darlene Compton, who's the Progressive Conservative MLA for Belfast-Murray River.
Former Malpeque Liberal MP Wayne Easter, who joined the event Sunday by video, also wants to see an inquiry.
RCMP doesn't investigate movements, ideologies
Cpl. Gavin Moore, media relations officer for the RCMP on P.E.I., said the agency does not comment on or investigate movements or ideologies. Its investigations target the criminal activities of any individual or group that poses a threat to the safety and security of Canadians.
"The RCMP generally does not comment on potential or ongoing investigations," Moore said in a statement to CBC News on Monday.
"If an investigation leads to the laying of criminal charges, the RCMP will confirm that an investigation has been conducted, clarify the nature of the charges laid and the identity of the individuals involved, as this becomes information in the public domain."
Federal matters involved, says province
CBC News reached out the P.E.I. government to see if it is prepared to launch a public inquiry.
On Monday afternoon, a spokesperson for the province sent an email in reply.
"Many of the allegations raised fall under federal jurisdiction, and questions about those matters are best directed to the Government of Canada," it said.
"With respect to land ownership, IRAC is currently conducting an investigation related to this matter, and we will await the outcome of that process."
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