Foreign interference inquiry: Han Dong sought support from international students

By Laura Osman and Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press on April 2, 2024.

MP Han Dong celebrates with supporters in Toronto on Thursday, May 22, 2014. A federal inquiry into foreign interference is set to hear today from the MP at the centre of allegations of foreign meddling in Canadian elections. Han Dong left the Liberal caucus after allegations he had willingly participated in Chinese interference efforts and had won his seat with Beijing's help, which are claims that Dong strongly denies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

OTTAWA – Former Liberal MP Han Dong says he met with international students from China at a private school and encouraged them to register as Liberal members during his nomination race in 2021.

He is testifying today in front of a federal inquiry into foreign interference into Canada’s last two elections.

Dong left the Liberal caucus following media reports that alleged he willingly participated in Chinese meddling and won his seat in 2019 with Beijing’s help.

He denies those claims and has countered with legal action against Global News and its parent company, Corus Entertainment.

The reports alleged that Chinese international students with fake addresses had been bused into the riding and coerced to vote for Dong’s nomination to avoid losing their student visas.

Dong says a busload of international students did show up to vote in the nomination race, but he didn’t view it as anything irregular at the time.