Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade Minister Michael Chan would like to try and set the record straight: He’s not under the influence or an “unwitting dupe” of a foreign government, and he’s done nothing to suggest he’s a threat to the province.

A passionate open letter signed by Chan and sent out on Wednesday talks about his pride in his Canadian and Chinese roots and decries the content in a pair of Globe and Mail articles.

“This week’s Globe & Mail articles are little more than a re-hash of ludicrous allegations published – and debunked – five years ago,” Chan wrote. “Although I have been a Minister for eight years, it is probably true that most Ontarians do not know me well. For many, their first impressions of me will be from the headlines in the recent Globe articles. It hurts me that this is the case.”

Furthermore, Chan and Premier Kathleen Wynne argue that maintaining ties with countries of origin and cultures should be considered a good thing.

The federal government, however, sounds like it is foisting the issue off on the province.

The Globe articles said the Canadian Security Intelligence Service had concerns Chan was too close to the Chinese consulate and susceptible to Chinese government influence. The newspaper reported CSIS briefed the province on its concerns in August, 2010, but that Chan was not the target of an investigation.

Yet in Ottawa, federal Justice Minister Peter MacKay said Tuesday there is an “ongoing investigation” involving Chan. During Wednesday’s question period, MacKay was invited to apologize for his remarks.

“Four years ago, CSIS told [Chan] he was no longer under investigation and the premier of Ontario has said the charges against him were baseless,” said Liberal MP John McCallum, who shares the Markham-Unionville riding with Chan. “Do Conservatives believe it’s wrong to maintain strong ties with one’s country of origin?"

Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney was blunt in the response (via House of Commons translation): “It’s quite simple: This is something that comes under the Ontario government. I have nothing further to say.”

The governments of both former premier Dalton McGuinty and Wynne claim they have found nothing of substance to the allegations.

A statement from Wynne sent out Wednesday repeated that Chan is “a man of sterling character, he is one of the hardest working people I have ever met.”

Chan has participated in several trade missions to China; on one of them last fall he "was instrumental" in landing almost $1 billion in new investment by Chinese companies, creating 1,800 jobs, the Wynne statement said.

“There are some who may believe that there is something sinister about maintaining deep ties with one’s country of origin, or one’s culture,” she added. “I believe the opposite and so do millions of Canadians who have immigrated to Canada.”

Chan’s letter takes issue with the headline of one of The Globe articles, and argues the article itself “contains a blend of innuendo and half-suggestions.”

“Although there are no specific allegations, provocative words like treason and espionage are used for no reason. There is a persistent theme that there is a perceived risk that I am under undue influence and that I am an unwitting dupe of a foreign government.”

This, Chan says, “is offensive and totally false,” and that it was offensive to him and his family.

“We live in a society where freedom of the press is an important pillar,” Chan wrote. “However, at the same time, nothing I have done in any way supports any suggestion that I am a possible threat to Canada or to Ontario.”

Chan’s letter states that keeping “deep, meaningful connections” with a person’s culture and country of origin is cherished by millions of Canadians. He also encourages “newer Canadians” to think about entering public life, saying they should not be discouraged “by the fear of allegations that the everyday actions of newer Canadians need to be minutely examined to determine if they somehow have lesser loyalties to this country.”

To contact the reporter on this story:
gzochodne@qpbriefing.com
416-212-5913

Chan writes rebuttal to articles on spy agency concerns

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