Han Dong says he will take legal action against Global News and its parent company after news outlets released allegations that the Toronto MP spoke to Chinese diplomats about delaying the release of two Canadians.
“Yes, I am taking legal action against Global News and Corus Entertainment,” Dong said in a statement on Monday. “I have retained a lawyer to begin legal action to its fullest extent.”
The statement comes after Global News reported last week, citing anonymous sources, that Dong spoke with Chinese diplomats in Toronto in February 2021 about Michael Spaber and Michael Kovrig. The two Canadian men were arrested by China in December 2018, just a week after the RCMP arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver over a US extradition order.
Global News claimed Dong told the Chinese consul general in Toronto that releasing the men would benefit conservatives, but would also help liberals show some “progress” in the case. The media outfit also published allegations that Dong profited from foreign Chinese interference in Canada’s election process.
Global News editor-in-chief Sonia Verma stood by the outlet’s reporting on Monday.
“Global News is governed by a rigorous set of journalistic principles and practices, and we are very mindful of the public interest and legal responsibility of this important accountability reporting,” she said in a statement.
In his statement, Dong refuted allegations of working with Beijing by describing his father’s experiences under the Chinese Communist Party’s regime, including being sent to a “re-education camp” in 1970.
“The trauma left on my father is one of the compelling reasons why, as co-chair of the Canada-China Legislative Association and a member of Parliament, I took every available opportunity to advocate on behalf of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and to call for their immediate release,” he said. “It is inconceivable that I would ever suggest a falsely accused individual should spend an extra minute in jail.”
Dong said he supports a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada and is prepared to meet with former Governor-General David Johnston, who has been hired as a special rapporteur to investigate such allegations.
“I can look at myself in the mirror and know, with full certainty, that I have the truth on my side,” he said. “My anonymous false accusers and their enablers cannot say the same.”
The Trudeau government is under heavy pressure as it is perceived to have taken no action following reports of Chinese interference in Canadian elections. Dong, along with the Conservatives, Bloc Québécois, and the New Democrats, voted 172 to pass the motion with 149, composed mostly of Liberal MPs, voting against it.
Information for this briefing was found via Global News and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
