Evidence of meeting #128 for Public Safety and National Security in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was comment.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Ms. Chen, in your opening statement, you referenced the fears that you have with respect to being liable in United States criminal proceedings. Are you aware of parliamentary privilege and the protection that extends to witnesses who appear before a committee?
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Ms. Chen, are you aware that where you find yourself right now, before a parliamentary committee of the House of Commons, of the Parliament of Canada...? Are you aware of how serious this situation is for you right now?
As an Individual
For the reasons already given in my opening statement, I have no comment at this time.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Ms. Chen, are you aware that this committee can take further actions and that you could perhaps find yourself before the bar of the House of Commons, not before a committee but before the entire chamber itself? Are you aware that this could escalate for you if you remain uncooperative?
As an Individual
As I have explained in my opening statement, I have no comment at this time.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Mr. Chair, I think it's quite obvious that we have an uncooperative witness. For such important subject matter, I think Canadians can see that the witness is committed to remaining obstructive and is not going to co-operate with this committee.
I'll cede my time back to you, but I think that this committee, as a whole, has to start considering the next steps of referring this to the House of Commons.
Liberal
November 5th, 2024 / 11:30 a.m.
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I will echo the comments of my colleagues around this table with regard to not only the frustration but also the seriousness with which we are meeting today to discuss an issue that has impact on our democracy. The allegations that a Canadian would further foreign hostile state actors to destabilize our democracy is troubling, to say the least.
Further to some of my colleagues' questions, I have a couple for you as well, Ms. Chen.
Your title, whether it's self-titled or not, is “social media influencer”. Who or what do you actually and exactly influence?
As an Individual
For the reasons already given in my opening statement concerning the ongoing investigation in the United States, where Canadian parliamentary privilege does not apply, I have no comment at this time.
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
Ms. Chen, what factors influenced you to collude with the Russians?
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
What was your end goal, Ms. Chen, in accepting money from Russia in exchange for your sharing disinformation with a Canadian and American audience?
As an Individual
For the reasons already given, I have no comment at this time.
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
Do you believe that the goals of your handlers, Russian agents, were accomplished by the disinformation that you were able to get out? Do you believe that you reached and influenced enough to change Canadians' perceptions on Ukraine and on the conflict in general?
As an Individual
For the reasons already given, I have no comment at this time.
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
Mr. Chair, again, it's obvious that this witness, under a guise of self-protection, certainly is not concerned about the protection of Canada or Canadians.
I will cede my time back to the chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Motz.
We go now to Ms. O'Connell for five minutes, please.
Liberal
Jennifer O'Connell Liberal Pickering—Uxbridge, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Ms. Chen, following up on Ms. Dancho's questions, are you aware of sanction regimes in Canada and the United States?
Liberal
Jennifer O'Connell Liberal Pickering—Uxbridge, ON
Did you ever seek legal advice on sanction regimes and what the penalties might be for accepting money from a sanctioned entity?
Liberal
Jennifer O'Connell Liberal Pickering—Uxbridge, ON
On February 16, 2022, you produced an op-ed in reference to a Russian war; however, the Russian invasion of Ukraine occurred on February 24, 2022. Did you receive speaking notes or those lines to produce that op-ed in advance of a Russian invasion in Ukraine?