Premier David Eby has vehemently denied allegations that a British Columbia cabinet minister is under investigation for assisting the Chinese government. The denial follows claims made by Kennedy Stewart, Vancouver's former mayor, who stated that federal lawyers had interviewed him regarding the matter. Stewart alleged that he alerted senior BC NDP officials, including Eby, about the investigation but no action has been taken.
Eby responded by stating that neither the RCMP nor Canada's spy agency, CSIS, have raised any concerns about any member of his cabinet or caucus. He affirmed that he has had multiple briefings with CSIS and the RCMP, and if there were any legitimate concerns, he would have removed the individual from cabinet. Government house leader Mike Farnworth called the accusations "absolutely ridiculous".
Stewart, who served as Vancouver's mayor from 2018 to 2022 and as an MP for the federal NDP for seven years, claims he is taking a risk by speaking out, citing a non-disclosure agreement. He did not disclose who the agreement was with. He stated that Chinese interference in Canadian politics has become a serious problem at both the civic and provincial levels.
The RCMP has stated they are looking into a request for comment regarding Stewart's accusations. The unnamed minister and the lack of concrete evidence have fueled speculation and debate within British Columbia's political circles. The situation highlights the ongoing concerns about foreign interference in Canadian politics and the challenges of addressing such allegations.
