It's time to act on foreign interference, attacks on dissidents, say opposition MPs

Opposition parties are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney's government to quickly implement key provisions of the law adopted last year to counter foreign interference following new revelations that attacks on Chinese dissidents living in Canada and around the world are on the rise.

Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong said the "brazen" attacks by the Chinese government constitute a threat to Canadian democracy.

 "We've had more than enough reports, public inquiries, commissions that have highlighted this transnational repression and foreign interference," Chong said in an interview with CBC News. "It's now time for action."

Chong's comments come in the wake of an investigation by CBC News, in conjunction with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), which found attacks by the Chinese government on dissidents living in Canada — and around the world — are on the rise.

Questioning of family members in China. Surveillance. Threatening phone calls. Online attacks. Spamouflage — which in one case led to fake, sexually explicit photos of one Quebec woman being spread online.

In many cases, dissidents are targeted for expressing opinions contrary to the Chinese government's positions on what it calls "the five poisons": democracy in Hong Kong, treatment of Uyghurs, Tibetan freedom, the Falun Gong and Taiwanese independence.

The Chinese embassy has yet to respond to questions from CBC News.

It's a trend that worries experts on China, who say the attacks damage democracy and national security in Canada.

Last June, Parliament adopted Bill C-70, which set out to counter foreign influence in elections and transnational repression of dissidents living in Canada. The legislation called for the establishment of a foreign agent registry and a foreign influence commissioner's office. Nearly a year later, those measures have not yet been put in place.

NDP MP Jenny Kwan says it's time.

"In light of the CBC investigation and the reports that have now come out, you would think that this would be a priority for the government. But so far, I have yet to hear the prime minister say foreign interference, transnational repression is a top priority for them."

Kwan said people who are targeted by China are often told to go to the police, however she said that has often resulted in no action being taken.

"All of that only just reinforces for them that there is no avenue for them to seek protection, that the Canadian government is not there with them in the face of such threats," she said.

Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe said the government will be sending China a message if it doesn't act.

"You can do whatever you want, we won't move. That's what the message will be. This is very dangerous," he said.

Brunelle Duceppe said the Bloc has called for transnational repression to be added to Canada's Criminal Code.

Chong said implementing Bill C-70 doesn't appear to be a priority for Carney's government.

"The early signs are troubling," Chong said. "There's no mention in the speech from the throne. There's been no update on the establishment of this registry, and we've heard little from the government about protecting Canadians from these national security threats."

The Public Safety Department says it is working on drafting the regulations to enact Bill C-70, setting up the commissioner's office and the IT infrastructure for the registry.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree's office has yet to respond to an interview request from CBC News.