As Canada expands its relationship with China, a national security expert emphasizes the importance of preventing the escalation of transnational repression against Chinese diaspora members in Canada. Phil Gurski, a former analyst at CSIS, suggests enhancing security screening procedures, particularly for visitors from China, to mitigate the infiltration of Chinese government agents.
Gurski advocates for rigorous vetting by CSIS to identify individuals with deceptive backgrounds or intentions when coming to Canada. He recommends allocating more resources to CSIS to enable thorough screening of all Chinese visitors across various categories. While CSIS received over 538,000 referrals for screening applications related to immigration, the exact number from China remains unspecified.
Marie Lamensch from the Montreal Institute for Global Security warns about the existence of Chinese “secret police stations” in Canada and the intimidation tactics employed by Chinese government agents on the diaspora. Recent reports by human rights group Safeguard Defenders also highlight the establishment of “police stations” globally, including in Canada, by the Chinese government.
The MIGS report, co-authored by Gurski and Lamensch, delves into transnational repression by various countries targeting individuals in Canada through intimidation, surveillance, and digital harassment. It calls for enhanced protection measures, stronger laws, a comprehensive strategy to counter repression, and collaboration with international partners.
Justice Marie-Josée Hogue’s inquiry underscores the severity of foreign interference in Canada, particularly by the People’s Republic of China, prompting the need for decisive action. The government’s nomination of Anton Boegman as Canada’s first Foreign Influence Transparency commissioner and the introduction of draft regulations for a foreign agent registry signify steps towards addressing foreign interference.
The Institute’s report sheds light on the underestimated scale of transnational repression in Canada, facilitated by emerging technologies and the openness of the country. While China is a prominent actor in such activities, the report also identifies Russia, India, Algeria, Iran, and Rwanda as engaging in transnational repression in Canada.
Efforts to counter transnational repression face challenges due to the lack of centralized guidelines, leading to fragmented responses from various agencies. Targets of repression often encounter difficulties in reporting incidents and accessing support, underscoring the need for comprehensive policies, stronger legal safeguards, and improved support mechanisms for affected individuals.
