Bob Mackin
The People’s Republic of China, which is “intently focused on ensuring the survival of the Chinese Communist Party,” is Canada’s biggest counter-intelligence threat, according to a June 18-published report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
Vladimir Putin (left) and Xi Jinping during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics (PRC)
It says China has targeted all levels of government, Canadian citizens and Chinese communities, via the United Front Work Department, its primary foreign interference arm. CSIS said China is involved in recruiting people to spy on Canadians, while employing “deceptive and clandestine means” to influence policy-making, non-governmental organizations, media and academia. Its goal is to further China’s interests, hide the CCP’s intentions and weaken Canada’s democracy and institutions.
“The PRC largely targets those it sees as posing a threat to CCP rule, such as human rights activists, political dissidents, journalists, and members of religious and ethnic minority groups,” said the report. “These malign activities compromise the safety, security and rights of Canadians.”
Despite the national security threat, B.C. NDP Premier David Eby said he will not reverse BC Ferries’ June 10-announced decision to build four vessels at a Chinese state-owned shipyard. Four days later, on June 14, interim federal NDP leader Don Davies was the guest of honour at a Vancouver Chinese consulate celebration of 55 years of diplomatic ties with Canada.
Russia, Iran, India also pose threats
In the report, CSIS also named China, Russia and Iran as major cyber threats, via espionage and hacking.
On Iran, Canada declared its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist entity last June. It has sanctioned 250 entities and 205 individuals for “systematic and gross violations of human rights.”
CSIS also mentioned the U.S. Department of Justice prosecution in 2024 of Canadians Damion Ryan and Adam Pearson for a murder-for-hire plot allegedly directed by Iranian drug lord Naji Sharifi Zindashti to target dissidents in Maryland.
“Iranian threat-related activities directed at Canada and its allies are likely to continue in 2025, and may increase depending on developments in the Middle East and the Iranian regime’s own threat perceptions,” the report said.
Also in 2024, Canada listed Vancouver-based anti-Israel group Samidoun as a terrorist entity. Samidoun is associated with a 2003-designated terrorist entity, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
On India, CSIS said “real and perceived Khalistani [Punjabi separatist] extremism emerging from Canada continues to drive Indian foreign interference activities in Canada.”
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