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.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Ms. Chen, I want to ask you what advice you provided to the Russians about what content would most likely be successful in deepening divisions and inflaming tensions in both American and Canadian society.
As an Individual
As I explained in my opening statement, at this time, I have no comment. However, following the closure of the American investigation into this issue, I would be willing to come back to testify before this committee.
Liberal
As an Individual
As I mentioned in my opening statement, at this time, I have no comments.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
You're over the time, but we also took time out for the vote, so I think you could go for another 30 seconds.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
Ms. Chen, do you have concerns that the content you created, which was funded by Russia through RT, continues to be available to Canadians on social media?
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
This is incredibly frustrating, Chair, especially given the motion we just passed. It's not often we get unanimity around this table, and we certainly have it right now.
I'll send it back to you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Ms. Damoff.
We'll now give the floor to Ms. Michaud for six minutes.
Kristina Michaud Bloc Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Indeed, it is quite worrisome to see the state of affairs in which we find ourselves today. This is the first time I've been in a situation like this, where a witness agrees to appear before a House of Commons committee but refuses to answer questions from parliamentarians, even though we've sent an invitation several times and we've just passed a motion unanimously to compel this witness to answer questions. I saw what happened in the last few minutes with my colleagues, who were asking very good questions.
This is an extremely serious and important issue. We decided to study the issue of Russian disinformation in Canada, and Ms. Chen's name was one of the first names appearing on the motion because of what happened. I understand that Ms. Chen may be less comfortable answering questions about the case at hand. I will therefore start with a fairly simple question.
Madam, can you confirm that your name is Lauren Chen?
Bloc
Kristina Michaud Bloc Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
Could you tell me your citizenship? I understand that you are Canadian, but that you live in the United States. Can you confirm your citizenship?
Bloc
Kristina Michaud Bloc Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
I won't continue like this for several minutes, Mr. Chair, because I think it's uncomfortable for everyone. I'm going to give the witness one last chance to explain to us the sequence of events that led to the opening of this investigation against her, from the beginning.
Madam, if you can explain to us what led to this investigation by the United States against you, I would appreciate it.
As an Individual
As I have explained in my opening statement, at this time, I have no comment.
Bloc
Kristina Michaud Bloc Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
Mr. Chair, given the circumstances, I will give you back the time I have left. Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Ms. Michaud.
We'll go now to Mr. MacGregor for six minutes, please.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Chen, at Tenet Media, when you and your husband were operating the company, can you describe to the committee what kind of internal processes you had to verify the information you received and published? Did you abide by any standard journalistic practices or code of ethics? Is that something you can tell this committee about? Did you have an internal document that you used to guide your operations and those of your employees?
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Ms. Chen, did you have any internal processes with respect to the financial controls of your company? What kinds of measures or protections did you have in place, with a chief financial officer or with legal counsel, to verify that any funding that you did receive or contracts for services...? How did you verify that the people paying you were legitimate and did not have ulterior motives at play?
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Ms. Chen, are you aware that one of Russia's overarching objectives right now, and for several years, has been to sow discontent and distrust in Canadian society?
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Do you have any personal feelings that your company was aiding in objectives that were planned, plotted and executed in the Kremlin?