Liberal MP accused of being a Chinese government affiliate says CSIS has yet to reach out | CBC News

Liberal MP Han Dong says he has yet to receive a call from Canada’s intelligence agency following recent allegations he is an “affiliate” of the Chinese government.

Last month, Global News cited anonymous sources who alleged national security officials gave an urgent briefing to senior aides from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office in 2019 “warning them that one of their candidates was part of a Chinese foreign interference network.”

Speaking for the first time on camera since the Global News article came out, Dong emphatically denied the story. 

“It’s unverified, anonymous allegations,” the Don Valley North MP said.

“I can tell you that, to this point, I’ve never received a phone call from CSIS. I’ve never been made aware if there’s an investigation, whether by CSIS, RCMP or Elections Canada, pertaining to my nomination or my election campaign.”

Global’s sources claim Dong, who was re-elected in 2019, is a “witting affiliate” of China’s election interference networks.

“No, absolutely not,” said Dong Tuesday. 

“I was not offered, I was not told, I was not informed, nor would I accept any help from a foreign country, whether during my nomination or during my election campaign.”

Dong said he sent a letter to CSIS Director David Vigneault asking about the latest allegations and whether the leak came from inside the service.

“They acknowledged receipt,” he said Tuesday.

‘I want the truth to come out’

Dong said he has not asked the Prime Minister’s Office or Jody Thomas, national security adviser to the prime minister, about the allegations.

He said he supports the government’s appointment of a “special rapporteur” to probe whether a public inquiry is needed. 

“I want the truth to come out in my defence,” he said.

“Because of the news story and all of the hateful, aggressive comments, death threats coming my way, it does impact constituents in my riding.”

Global’s story also reported that CSIS urged senior Liberal Party staff to rescind Dong’s nomination.

Trudeau has pushed back against that allegation.

“The suggestions we’ve seen in the media that CSIS would somehow say, ‘No this person can’t run or that person can’t run,’ is not just false. It’s actually damaging to people’s confidence in our democratic and political institutions,” Trudeau said last month.