Introduction
Thank the PIFI Committee for allowing the public to submit statements. I also appreciate the committee’s consideration in allowing statements to be made in one's native language. Given the importance and complexity of discussing foreign interference in federal elections and democratic institutions, I have decided to make my statement in my native language.
My name is Jiuru Zhu, also known as Tina Zhu in English. I was born in China and immigrated to Canada from Europe in 1998 as a skilled worker, holding a master’s degree in Applied Computer Science. After arriving in Canada, I worked hard to integrate into the new environment. Since becoming a citizen in 2002, I have actively participated in Canada’s democratic processes, volunteering in elections at all three levels of government. My three children were all born in Canada and are now starting their own lives. Creating a fair and just social environment is a responsibility of every citizen and it has been a driving force behind my actions.
I am the founder and current president of the Canada-China Friendship Promotion Association (CCFPA), a non-profit organisation (NPO) officially registered in Quebec with no political or partisan affiliations. The mission of the CCFPA is to enhance democracy participation among Chinese Canadians, promote multicultural development in Canada, strengthen civil exchanges between Canada and China, and foster friendship between the two nations. We emphasise the promotion of multiculturalism, as evidenced by our dragon boat team comprising members from different ethnic backgrounds, our choir performing diverse songs and dances in local nursing homes, our essay competitions open to all ethnic groups, and our community-integrated cultural activities like “Flowers of May.” As a member of the Movement Quebec Pour la paix, I believe that promoting harmony and peace in Canadian society is my fundamental social responsibility.
I fully support the Canadian government’s active investigation into foreign government interference in Canadian elections and the implementation of corresponding effective measures. However, over the years, I have also felt that widespread suspicion has led to a trust crisis within the Chinese community, which has been shrouded in conspiracy theories, with certain individuals and organisations being specifically targeted. I am one such victim. Therefore, I suggest that the government, media, and relevant institutions distinguish between true and false information while conducting investigations, seeking truth from facts, and avoiding overgeneralization. Otherwise, it would stigmatize the Chinese community and cause unnecessary harm to innocent people.
Detailed Account of My Related Experiences:
⦁ I appeared in Wang Yuesheng Case Court Hearing and profiled by Senator Leo Housakos, Leading to Severe Damage to My Reputation, Business, and Mental Health:
On November 14, 2022, I saw on the news that Hydro-Québec employee Wang Yuesheng was taken from his home in Candiac by the RCMP and charged with four counts. The major media outlets portrayed him as a “Chinese spy stealing for China’s benefit.” Like other Chinese Canadians, my first reaction was shock. I wanted to understand the full picture—what exactly happened? With these questions in mind, I decided to attend the public hearing on the 15th.
At the hearing on the 15th, many media were present. They interviewed some attendees, including me. I said, “Ce genre de chose affecte vraiment la relation entre les deux pays (This kind of thing will definitely affect China-Canada relations),” and expressed that if this case was similar to the Meng Wanzhou incident, we would support Wang Yuesheng just as we supported Meng Wanzhou because I believe no individual should be sacrificed for political circumstances.

On the morning of November 26, 2022 I received an email from The Epoch Times,
“Hi there,
We'd like to ask for your comment in relation to Sen. Leo Housakos' question about CCFPA President Ms. Tina Zhu's attendance of alleged spy Mr. Yuesheng Wang, a former Hydro Quebec employee. Housakos said the CCPFA's work office is not known to the government, what is your thoughts about that. Please explain why your office address, at 6245 Boulevard Monk, Montréal, QC H4E 3H8, appears to be a store unrelated to your group.
Mr. Housakos called for the creation of a foreign registry through Bill S-237, which he said could identify whether Ms. Zhu is working on behalf of Beijing. Do you have any comment on this?
We would appreciate a response before our deadline at 10 a.m. ET on Nov. 26.
Thank you.”
Since I saw the email on the 27th Nov., 2022, I urgently replied at 4:00 AM on the 27th:
“Hello there,
I am sorry to reply to you late as I just read your email.
I did not know this question , may you please send me the resources? Thank you .
We all care about the truth? Do we?”

On November 27, 9:00 AM, The Epoch Times replied:
“Hi, thanks for your reply.
Here is what Sen. Housakos said:
https://twitter.com/SenatorHousakos/status/1593357837107081216

See my questions below. Or do you have any other comment?”
I opened the link sent by The Epoch Times and heard Mr. Leo Housakos, in order to promote his Bill S-237 (establishing a foreign registry), distort my basic right as a citizen to attend the hearing, insinuating that I was an agent for China and working for China. This made me feel extremely shocked and disappointed in the senator’s disrespect (or even discrimination) towards minority immigrants. The hearing was open to the public, welcoming citizens to attend. Why would my attendance and desire to know more about the facts be criticised by this senator as possibly working for China? Is his S-237 proposal specifically targeting immigrants? Is it based on distrust of minority immigrants?
As for why CCFPA’s registered address is a company’s address—the reason is simple. Our organisation has limited funds, so we use a company’s address to save money. This is common in Canada. Many NPOs in Canada do not have their own exclusive office spaces. Why would such a common situation be questioned by Mr. Housakos?
On Senator Housakos’ Twitter, he wrote: “Chinese espionage at Canada's largest power utility is yet another incident of interference by Beijing in Canada's democracy, and is yet another example of why a foreign influence registry as called for in my Bill #S237 is so necessary.”
Before Wang Yuesheng’s case was defined by the court, this senator already labelled it as another incident of Beijing’s interference. Such lawless and illogical remarks can have terrible consequences and are a reflection of conspiracy theories targeting the Chinese community.
Meanwhile, the senator’s baseless accusations against me caused great harm. Following Mr. Housakos’ tweets and media reports, I received harassing calls, threatening emails, and increased rumours about me on social media, causing significant damage to my reputation. My business suffered greatly, with customers labelling me as a CCP spy, hanging up on my calls, or explicitly stating they would no longer work with me. My mental health took a hit, and I felt depressed for a while. With the help and support of family and friends, I am gradually recovering, but my business is hard to restore because many people who don’t know the truth no longer trust me.

Because of such personal experiences, I have felt the insignificance and despair of an individual when facing slander and defamation by officials and the media. This has also made me realize the importance and necessity for the public to know the truth.

2. RCMP's Investigation into Two Chinese Community Centers in Quebec as “Secret Chinese Police” Severely Undermines Canadian Democracy and Rule of Law, Causing Fear Among Chinese Canadians
   In March 2023, the RCMP accused the Chinese Family Service of Greater Montreal and the Sino-Quebec Centre of being proxy agencies for Chinese police stations in Quebec. Without any evidence, the RCMP leaked this information to the media. As a result, these two centers were quickly portrayed as secret Chinese police stations in major media headlines. Many people who needed services from these centers were too afraid to visit, causing significant disruptions to their lives. The staff at these centers were left in a state of panic and confusion. The centers could no longer receive government funding, leading to financial difficulties.
   On March 9, 2023, several community organizations, including the CCFPA, gathered in Montreal’s Sun Yat-sen Park to express support for the two service centers.
   In a public statement by the Canadian Constitution Defenders supporting the Chinese service centers, it was written:
   "On March 9, 2023, media reported that the RCMP was investigating two Chinese community centers in Montreal—the Chinese Family Service of Greater Montreal and the Sino-Quebec Centre—believing they might be ‘Chinese police stations’. We, a group of Chinese Canadians living in Montreal, welcome investigations into potential foreign agents. However, before any clear conclusions and solid evidence from the investigation, the media reports and the RCMP’s statements have already severely impacted our community, leading to incidents of racial discrimination against Chinese Canadians.
   The media, without knowing the truth, spread misinformation. For example, the Montreal Gazette reported: ‘The RCMP said Chinese Canadians are victims of the possible activities of these centers.’ However, we are Chinese Canadians, and our experiences contradict this statement. Based on our years of personal experience, these two centers are neither proxies for Chinese police stations nor secret Chinese police stations, and we have never felt victimized by these centers. On the contrary, these centers have greatly benefited our community. For decades, these two centers have made significant contributions to our community. Because of their contributions, Xixi Li received voter support and was elected as a Brossard City Councillor. We have never felt intimidated, harassed, targeted, or harmed by these centers.
   It is reported that the allegations about the possible establishment of Chinese police stations originated from a foreign organization in Spain called Safeguard Defender. How did a foreign organization make such allegations? Does this foreign organization regularly collect information on Canadian citizens? Is this organization conducting espionage activities against Canadian citizens? Should the RCMP investigate and verify the claims made by Safeguard Defender first? To date, as far as we know, the RCMP has never contacted these two centers to verify the foreign organization’s allegations. This makes the Chinese community in Quebec feel the terror of ‘McCarthyism’.
   To this day, we have not seen any evidence from the RCMP to support their allegations of so-called secret Chinese police stations against these two centers. Meanwhile, all media reports about Chinese police stations are based on speculation, assumptions, and misinterpretations of facts, without providing any evidence.
   Whether it is the RCMP's allegations or these media reports, the end result is defamation of the Chinese Canadian community. Without verification, these allegations manipulate public perception, causing Brossard City Council leaders to advise Xixi Li to cease her normal duties as a councillor. In short, a foreign organization successfully undermined our Canadian democratic system, stripping a duly elected city councillor of her right to participate in council activities.
   So, can this "Chinese police station agents/secret Chinese police" farce be seen as a premeditated act of racial discrimination against Chinese Canadians? Similar situations have occurred in history. Under Hitler’s regime in Germany, there was a conspiracy theory of Jewish Bolshevism, claiming that Jews were a threat to national security because of their connections with communist Russia. If we replace Jews with Chinese and Russia with China, the essence of these two conspiracy theories is the same.
   The RCMP is investigating possible Chinese police stations. It is reported that it has not obtained a search warrant from the court. This means the RCMP cannot verify the allegations made by a foreign organization. We do not know whether this allegation is true or false. However, public fear has already ignited the anger of Canadians.
   It is reported that the RCMP has received 15 leads. Should the RCMP communicate with the two centers to verify whether these 15 leads have any factual basis or are merely rumors? Why do we have a secret system for reporting Canadian citizens? Is this a democratic society?
   Based on our experiences, we are not victims of these two service centers but rather victims of the Chinese police station conspiracy theory propaganda. The RCMP's investigation into the ‘secret Chinese police’ at these two centers is not protecting Canadians from foreign interference but rather facilitating foreign influence to undermine our Canadian democracy. We are concerned that selective and biased law enforcement will abuse our judicial system, desecrate our rule of law, and potentially turn our judicial system into a tool for racial discrimination. We urge the RCMP to uphold our Canadian values of the rule of law and apply the law without discrimination.”
3. Attacked Again for Helping the Chinese Community Against Slander
   2023 marked the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and the events affecting the Chinese community this year have filled me with deep concern and subtle fear. At a rally, I expressed my heartfelt question: "What makes me afraid again on the centenary of the Chinese Exclusion Act?" Society is becoming divided, with suspicion and hostility towards the Chinese community, making us feel scared.
   Amid this subtle fear, my instinct for self-protection led me to re-analyze these events: "Chinese spies," "Chinese police stations," and "Chinese interference in Canadian elections," followed by the targeted "Foreign Influence Registry Act."
   In response to this targeted "Foreign Influence Registry Act," Chinese Canadians and other ethnic groups from different provinces across Canada initiated the "E-4395 Petition"(1) in April 2023.
   To raise awareness about this petition, the CCFPA formed a volunteer team named "Montreal in Action" to promote it and collect signatures in Chinatown. Hundreds of signed documents were ultimately sent to Ottawa by registered mail, with the postage paid by my family. Unexpectedly, this postage fee was maliciously interpreted by some as a transaction with the volunteers. The volunteers willingly promoted E-4395. Under the scorching summer sun, they repeatedly explained the petition. If not for their pursuit of fairness and justice, they could have easily chosen not to participate.

This defamatory post about me was viewed by 46.4K people on Twitter, which can give an idea of the harm it caused me. The poster is closely connected with Conservative Senator Leo Housakos and former chief investigative reporter for Global News, Sam Cooper.

The poster also spread a lot of false and fabricated information about me and the association. In 2023, to learn from history and avoid repeating mistakes, CCFPA held the second essay contest titled "I Remember" to commemorate and reflect on the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act. This event had nothing to do with the Chinese consulate, but the poster claimed it was "along with" the consulate. What are her intentions? This poster has also been monitoring and stalking me, which makes me feel fearful.

Summary:

When I sought the truth for the sake of Canada-China friendship, I was unfairly labeled as a Chinese agent. When I defended the rights of Chinese Canadians against discrimination, I was smeared as having connections with the Chinese consulate. When I exercised my civic duty by participating in Canadian democratic affairs, I was accused of working for China. These actions undermine the core values of fairness and freedom of speech in Canadian society.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states that diversity, inclusiveness, and human rights are fundamental values of Canada. The fight against racism and discrimination is a universal cause that transcends borders and governments. If the legitimate efforts of Chinese Canadians to fight for equal rights and defend their lawful interests are similar to the claims of the Chinese government, does that mean all ethnic groups striving for equal rights and defending their lawful interests in Canada are agents of China?

Furthermore, the rule of law is the foundation of Canada. Before being proven guilty, everyone is presumed innocent. Any allegations of foreign influence must be supported by solid and concrete evidence and be subjected to thorough and impartial investigation. This approach not only protects the rights of the accused but also reinforces the integrity of our democratic institutions.

The core of our democratic system is respect for freedom of speech. Even those with differing opinions should be respected. This respect is essential for ensuring a vibrant and diverse public discourse space.

We must be vigilant against the dangers of misinformation and disinformation as they can distort public perception and undermine trust in our democratic processes. By ensuring that allegations undergo rigorous scrutiny and are supported by reliable evidence, we can protect the fundamental values of democracy and maintain public confidence in our institutions.

Finally, I urge the Committee on Foreign Interference to prioritize democratic principles, freedom of speech, and the rule of law in its deliberations. Let us ensure justice through meticulous and evidence-based investigations, thereby preserving the democratic fabric of our society.

1. https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4395

Jiuru Zhu
July 23, 2024
Montreal, Canada