A Conservative MP was threatened by the Chinese consulate in Toronto ahead of the 2021 federal election, a House committee heard.
At a Procedure and House Committee (PROC) hearing on April 14, Conservative MP Michael Cooper put that question to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s chief of staff Katie Telford, who was testifying in relation to recent media reports of Chinese interference in the past two federal elections.
“Ten weeks before the 2021 election, Bob Saroya, the then-member of parliament for Markham–Unionville, received a cryptic and threatening text message from Beijing’s consul general in Toronto, suggesting that he would no longer be a member of parliament after the 2021 election. Were you, the prime minister, or anyone in the PMO [Prime Minister’s Office] briefed or otherwise have knowledge about that text message?” Cooper asked….