Forensic examination, finally over!
Pt. 3. What the Globe and Mail saw
Here is a list of classified CSIS records referenced in Globe reporting on Chinese interference operations (as compiled by me—possibly flawed)
In chronological order from most recent:
CSIS Director’s briefing to the Prime Minister and National Security Adviser, Fall 2022. The briefing concerned alleged Chinese state interference in the 2019 federal election. Contents of the briefing relayed by anonymous sources. No documentation on contents of the briefing made available to the Globe. The briefing was referenced in two Globe stories, published on December 21, 2022, and February 13, 2023.
CSIS February 2, 2022 report. Marked Top Secret. “Viewed” by the Globe, some phrases quoted. Referenced activities by the Chinese consulate in Montreal to track visa applications of Canadian VIPs including politicians and business leaders travelling to China. Discussed “work targets.” Reported in Globe story, February 20, 2023, “CSIS Reports outline how China targets Canadian politicians, business leaders.”
CSIS January 15, 2022 report. “Viewed” by the Globe, some passages quoted. Discusses Chinese official awareness and response to CSIS operations countering foreign influence, including CSIS warnings to elected MPs and Senators. Reported in Globe story, February 18, 2023, “CSIS documents show China warned ‘Canadian friends’ of foreign-interference investigations.”
CSIS January 10, 2022 report, marked Secret, “viewed” by the Globe, some passages from document quoted. CSIS document shared by Service with senior officials at GAC, PS, CSE, DND, IRCC and PCO. Referenced in Globe story, March 16, 2023, “China’s Vancouver Consulate interfered in 2022 municipal election, according to CSIS,”
CSIS December 21, 2021 report, marked Secret. “Viewed” by the Globe, some passages quoted. Discusses threat posed by Chinese students researching critical technologies while in Canada. Reported in Globe story, March 13, 2023, “China diverts some researchers to Canada after U.S. visa denials, CSIS says.”
CSIS report of December 20, 2021. “Viewed” by the Globe and Mail. Discussed Chinese election interference tactics, including donation kickbacks and use of Chinese student “volunteers” on electoral campaigns. Reported in Globe story on February 17, 2023, “CSIS documents reveal; Chinese strategy to influence Canada’s 2021 election.” Also reported in Globe story on February 20, 2023, “CSIS reports outline how China targets Canadian politicians, business leaders.”
CSIS report of “mid-November”/November 30, 2021. “Viewed” by the Globe and Mail. CSIS reported that Chinese consular official viewed loss in 2021 federal election of Mr. Chiu and fellow Conservative, Alice Wong, as attributed to growing electoral influence of mainland Chinese-Canadians. Reported in Globe story on February 17, 2023, “CSIS documents reveal Chinese strategy to influence Canada’s 2021 election.” Also referenced in Globe story on March 16, 2023, “China’s Vancouver consulate interfered in 2022 municipal election, according to CSIS.”
CSIS Report of “early November” 2021. “Viewed” by the Globe and Mail. Discussed desire on part of Chinese officials in Vancouver consulate to see the Liberal party win in 2021 and to get out the vote by Chinese-Canadian organizations. Discussed animus by Chinese consular officials against Kenny Chiu, a Conservative who lost his bid for re-election in 2021. Reported in Globe story on February 17, 2023, “CSIS documents reveal Chinese strategy to influence Canada’s 2021 election.”
CSIS “dossier” and/or “briefing package” regarding the activities of former provincial Liberal Cabinet Minister, Michael Chan. Allegedly contains information on his activities in the 2019 and 2021 federal election campaigns and meetings with suspected Chinese intelligence officials. No documentation made available to the Globe. Date of dossier unknown; briefings package cited as 2020. Referenced in Globe story on February 13, 2023, “CSIS Warned Trudeau about Toronto-area politician’s alleged ties to Chinese diplomats.”
Briefing for PMO including Katie Telford, by “security officials.” Dated 2019. Allegedly included a warning about Mr. Chan and his contacts with Mary Ng. No documentation on the briefing made available to the Globe. Referenced in Globe story on February 13, 2023. “CSIS Warned Trudeau about Toronto-area politician’s alleged ties to Chinese diplomats.”
If you are a devotee of ATIP requests, young enough (say under 40) to wait for a response package, and immune to oceans of black redactor ink, have a go.
The real point of this listing, of course, is to make clear the limited nature of the documentation made available to the Globe and Mail, which is obscured by the way the Globe stories unfolded.
