The mayor of Port Coquitlam, Brad West, expressed his disappointment with the Canadian government’s efforts to address Chinese political interference. It has been alleged that Beijing attempted to run a candidate against West in the municipal election last October. In response, West called for a full public inquiry, the establishment of a national registry of foreign agents, and the deportation of individuals involved in such activities. He emphasized the importance of maintaining confidence and trust in the democratic process and criticized the perceived weakness in Canada’s response to foreign interference.
West’s criticism came after reports from The Bureau revealed that the Chinese Communist Party had targeted him as part of their efforts to influence the election. West learned about the alleged plot from members of the Chinese Canadian community who shared WeChat messages related to candidate recruitment. The messages were passed on to CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service), and West revealed that he had previously discussed his concerns about Chinese government influence with CSIS. He attributed the attention he received from the Chinese government to his outspokenness and his opposition to the relationship between the Chinese government and the Union of BC Municipalities.
West has been critical of the funding of the Union of BC Municipalities’ annual convention, which has accepted money from China in the past. He raised concerns about a cocktail reception hosted by the Chinese government during the convention and the potential influence it gives Beijing over local elected officials. West argued that elected officials should prioritize serving the citizens of their own country rather than foreign governments.
According to West, CSIS warned him in early 2020 that his advocacy had upset the Chinese government and put him on their radar. The UBCM responded to West’s comments by highlighting the changes they have implemented following a policy review in 2019. These changes include keeping convention fees low, seeking sponsorship to offset costs, and carefully vetting sponsors and tradeshow participants to prevent foreign government sponsorship of events.
CSIS declined to comment on any discussions they might have had with West regarding China, citing the need to protect sensitive information. However, they affirmed their commitment to investigating foreign interference threats and working with domestic and foreign partners.
West believes that the allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian politics are just the tip of the iceberg and have exposed the need for a full federal public inquiry and stronger laws to combat such interference. He criticized the level of political action on the issue as inadequate.
Discussions about a public inquiry on foreign interference involving all political parties have been ongoing, with progress being made to establish its terms of reference and select a leader. Former governor general David Johnston resigned as the special rapporteur on foreign interference due to conflict of interest concerns. NDP MP Peter Julian expressed confidence that Canada will have an inquiry by the end of the summer.
Overall, West’s concerns highlight the importance of addressing foreign political interference in Canada and the need for stronger measures to protect the integrity of the democratic process.
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