Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s trusted cabinet minister, Dominic LeBlanc, has announced that he will be meeting with Han Dong in the coming weeks to discuss the Don Valley North MP’s future with the Liberal caucus. LeBlanc has been in contact with Dong and hopes to meet him in person soon to assess the situation.
During a press conference in Moncton, LeBlanc emphasized the importance of conducting the process properly as requested by the Prime Minister. Dong stepped aside from the Liberal caucus after Global News reported on China’s foreign interference activities in Canada, with the intention of clearing his name.
Since March, Dong’s future with the Liberal Party has remained uncertain following allegations that he had received covert support from the Chinese consulate in Toronto. LeBlanc is currently leading the assessment process and will provide updates when appropriate.
When asked about the timeline for his deliberations, LeBlanc responded with a “no.” In March, Global News reported that Dong allegedly discussed the release of the “Two Michaels” with a Chinese diplomat, implicating the Opposition Conservatives. Dong’s alleged statements became a significant foreign affairs issue for Trudeau’s government.
Global News also revealed that Dong was apparently the subject of a probe by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) regarding election interference orchestrated by China’s consulate in Toronto.
Dong has denied being a target of the CSIS investigation, calling the claims “seriously inaccurate.” Although he admitted discussing the detention of the “Two Michaels” with Han, Dong maintained that he advocated for their prompt release. The Prime Minister’s Office stated that they were unaware of these discussions before being approached by Global News.
In March, Dong defended himself in the House of Commons, denying the allegations and asserting his commitment to respecting human rights. He is currently suing Global News over their coverage. Following Dong’s departure from the Liberal caucus, Trudeau assigned LeBlanc to review the situation and determine if Dong should be allowed back into the party. The criteria for this decision have not been disclosed.
In a report on foreign interference activities in Canada, David Johnston acknowledged irregularities related to Dong’s 2019 nomination and potential ties to the Chinese consulate in Toronto. However, Johnston found no evidence that Dong was aware of these irregularities or the consulate’s involvement in his nomination. Johnston dismissed the allegation that Dong advocated for the continued detention of the “Two Michaels” as false.
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