A B.C. Liberal MP who regularly attends events of groups that adopt Beijing’s language and views had opposed the creation of a foreign agent registry in Canada when he was a first-time candidate in the 2021 election.
In a Sept. 9, 2021, interview on Chinese-language YouTube channel Rise Bowl, Parm Bains, Liberal candidate for Steveston–Richmond East at the time, was asked if he would support Bill C-282, an act that aimed to make the dealings of any foreign influencers more transparent.
Specifically, the bill aimed to establish a foreign influence registry to require “individuals acting on behalf of a foreign principal to file a return when they undertake specific actions with respect to public office holders.”…