(Vancouver) B.C. Premier David Eby said he was “very disturbed” by allegations of Chinese interference in Vancouver’s municipal elections last year and demanded a briefing to Canada’s intelligence agency.
Mr. Eby assured that Canadians are entitled to a “thorough and independent investigation” into allegations reported in the Globe and Mail newspaper this week that the Chinese consulate in Vancouver interfered in municipal elections by using diaspora community groups and preparing some candidates.
The Prime Minister claims he has requested a “full brief” from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), but has not yet received it.
The newspaper report cites CSIS documents, but Eby said he was unable to comment on their credibility.
That report prompted Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim on Thursday to point out that he was disgusted by her “innuendo,” and that he wouldn’t be targeted by the allegations if he was white.
David Eby clarified that the majority of the tools to fight international interference were in the hands of the federal government, but he wanted to know if British Columbia could “fill in the gaps” by any means at its disposal. He added that Elections BC has already presented recommendations to combat misinformation.
“We are always looking for ways to make sure our elections are free and fair,” he said at a press conference in Prince Rupert.
This week’s news report said the CSIS documents did not name the consulate’s favorite candidates for mayor and council, but wanted Kennedy Stewart to lose.
Ken Sim, Vancouver’s first Chinese-Canadian mayor, defeated Mr. Stewart by more than 36,000 votes.