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153 control of foreign countries (including China).? Facing political pressure, he later said none of the actions were “illegal” and that “foreign interference is a common occurrence in many countries around the world and has been for decades.”* ¢ In 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was a subject of controversy for his attendance at cash-for-access dinners.* Among the attendees were Chinese billionaire Zhang Bin, who donated $1 million to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. Also at the dinner was Liu Meng, a CCP official who was opening a Chinese Chamber of Commerce, a common United Front organization, in the country. e In 2017, a Conservative member of Parliament was denied a visa to visit China because she intended to raise questions about human rights.° ¢ In October 2017, the Financial Times acquired a United Front teaching manual which praised the success of overseas Chinese candidates in Toronto elections, writing, “We should aim to work with those individuals and groups that are at a relatively high level, operate within the mainstream of society and have prospects for advancement.”’ e¢ In December 2017, the Globe and Mail reported that two Conservative senators had set up a private consulting business with the intent of attracting Chinese investment to Newfoundland and Labrador.* The paper also reported that the Senate’s ethics watchdog was investigating an all-expenses-paid trip to China by three Conservative senators, including one involved in the consulting company.’ (The paper had previously reported on thirty-six trips to China funded by arms of the Chinese government or business groups.'°) e¢ In December 2017, Conservative senator Linda Frum called for an investigation into improper influence in Canada." She alleged that laws banning direct foreign donations to political parties are sufficiently robust, but third-party groups—so long as they receive funds six months prior to the election—can use foreign money to influence voters. Civil Society In 2016, the New York Times reported about pressure on independent Chinese-language media in Canada.” In January 2018, a coalition led by Amnesty International submitted a confidential report to the Canadian government detailing harassment and digital disinformation campaigns and direct threats against Uyghurs, Tibetans, Taiwanese, democracy advocates, and members of Falun Gong.” Appendix 2 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_020612