Justin Trudeau Promises To Crackdown On Disinformation Amid Claims Of Chinese Meddling

During a press conference in Ottawa, he stated, “we know disinformation often generated abroad can be a real threat to our elections, and it’s a threat that the federal government cannot combat alone.”

While the organizations and groups that will benefit from the investment remain unknown, concerns have been raised over the Canadian government’s funding of questionable groups and individuals in recent years.

March 08, 2023

One example is Leith Marouf, an alleged “anti-hate” activist whose group, the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC), received government funding. Marouf was later exposed as a prolific antisemite on social media, leading to the funding being cut. The Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAHN) has also received significant funding from the Trudeau government, despite facing criticism for attempting to link the former flag of Canada flown during World War Two with hatred.

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The Trudeau government has previously expressed concern over disinformation and has been accused of disseminating it. This was particularly highlighted during an attempt to ban hunting firearms last year.

In his press conference, Trudeau addressed concerns over foreign election interference from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including allegations that the Liberal Party directly benefited from such interference in the last two federal elections. The allegations were made following leaks from the Canadian Secret Intelligence Service (CSIS), which claimed to have warned Trudeau about Chinese attempts to interfere.

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Trudeau’s response to questions about the allegations has been criticized, with him reportedly ignoring CSIS warnings and informing MP Han Dong, who was implicated in the allegations, of the intelligence agency’s investigation. Dong has also faced criticism for allegedly benefiting from the CCP busing in Chinese international students with fake addresses to support his nomination as a Liberal candidate in the 2019 election.

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While Trudeau has stated that a full inquiry into Chinese election meddling will not be launched, he has announced that a special rapporteur will be appointed to investigate the matter. The role of the rapporteur will be to determine whether a formal inquiry, judicial review, or other probes are necessary.

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However, concerns have been raised over the potential appointment of a sympathetic figure by the Trudeau government. Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leader Pierre Poilievre has called for a fully independent and non-partisan public inquiry and emphasized the importance of appointing a commissioner agreed upon by all parties in parliament.