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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 192

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 8, 2023 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 192 - May/8/23
Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)
  • May/8/23 10:39:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, first, I want to thank my colleague from Edmonton Strathcona for her great leadership here in the House, certainly on this issue, and at the foreign affairs committee. She highlighted something that really stood out to me as a member of Parliament, that we still do not know if there are other members of Parliament that have been targeted by foreign entities, not just China, but possibly Russia or Iran, in the House. We did not get an answer from the government today. Could my colleague speak to the importance of a public inquiry and also whether she thinks that the Chinese government would have taken this long to expel a Canadian diplomat if the shoe were on the other foot?
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Context: House Hansard - 192 - May/8/23
Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)
  • May/8/23 10:57:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his speech. As a fellow British Columbian, I always appreciate working with him on the protection of wild salmon. In terms of the topic tonight, we know the problem of foreign interference is not just about China. Canada needs to do way more when it comes to combatting foreign interference from all countries, from illegal police stations to election fraud, attempts to spy on our airspace and threatening members of Parliament here in this House. Canadians are rightly concerned about foreign interference by the Chinese government, as well as other governments. It is up to the government to defend Canadians from threats to our democracy. Right now, the government is letting Canadians down. We need a foreign registry, a public inquiry into foreign interference, better contact points for Canadians being threatened and intimidated, and better protection from foreign spies. Does he agree the government needs to take swift action in dealing with foreign interference and spying, extending beyond China?
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