The official Senate Channel was used to broadcast a pro-CCP protest against a foreign agent registry
A Parliament Hill ceremony held on June 24, 2023, to commemorate the Chinese Exclusion Act was co-opted by pro-Communist voices drawing a parallel between the Act and the recent introduction of a foreign agent registry law.
The entire event was broadcast by an organization called The ACCT Foundation (Action, Chinese Canadians Together) over the official Senate Zoom channel. The Canadian federal government sponsors the ACCT with over a million dollars in direct funding and contracts through the Canadian Heritage Department.
ACCT was created in 2017 to “build the capacity of Chinese Canadian leaders committed to creating a more equitable society in Canada.”
Also, while I'm here and because I'm trained to notice detail and I do exactly that. This "ACCT Foundation" is Senator Woo's PRIVATE Not For Profit so someone is going to have to explain to me how is it allowable in rules, policy and in information security practices that he is,… pic.twitter.com/SPnNoh3HdC
— Laura Love (@Panopticonomy) June 24, 2023
The proposed registry law requires citizens engaged in political activities or lobbying on behalf of foreign entities to disclose their relationship with the foreign entity and details of their actions, financials, and other disbursements.
Calls to “oppose a modern-day Chinese Exclusion Act” were spread through WeChat and Chinese state-affiliated media, including a poster featuring the commemoration ceremony to take place on Parliament Hill on June 24th.
Protests against a foreign agent registry are shared by Global Chinese Convergence Media (CGCTV) - a “Canadian” media network in Toronto. Records show it is owned by Xinflix Media - an entity partnered with CCTV, which is owned by the CCP and the state propaganda broadcaster.… pic.twitter.com/cjp5KnWinl
— Andy Lee - Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) June 21, 2023
Senator Victor Oh and Senator Yuen Pau Woo were the event's chief sponsors. Oh reportedly rented buses to bring protestors to Parliament Hill. Some WeChat messages indicated protestors were offered compensation to attend.
Senator Oh Arranging 50 Buses to Bring Protesters to Ottawa to Oppose Foreign Agent Registry
— Noé Chartier (@NChartierET) June 16, 2023
by @AndrewChen55 https://t.co/sRHgtISFt7
Instructions released before the event had strict rules for attendees: posts reminded participants not to chant “red slogans” (in favour of the CCP), not to waive the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) flag, and not to mention or circulate the petition against proposed foreign agent registry legislation. Earlier messaging had indicated pushback against a registry was the underlying motivator for the event, but organizers changed the messaging.
Despite the strict instructions, some protestors engaged in a People’s Liberation Army-type military march to the anthem of the Chinese military group while donning Beijing Olympic jackets as uniforms.
Weixin post on the protest against a foreign agent registry warn participants not to draw attention by waving the CCP flag or shouting “red slogans.”
— Andy Lee - Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) June 23, 2023
“We call on everyone to oppose any ugly behavior of attacking Chinese and fabricating stories to smear Chinese without evidence.”… pic.twitter.com/RD9Alxt7iy
Demonstrators arrived on the Hill with coordinated signage, splattered with various phrases such as “We support David Johnston,” “We Condemn Racism,” and “Oppose False Media Reporting” – messages that have been parroted by Senators Woo and Oh as they have pushed back against tougher foreign interference laws. Senator Oh was recently captured on video stating that he intended to start a fund in order to sue reporters that “smear Chinese people.
Senator Oh has taken more travel “gifts” from the PRC regime than any other parliamentarian.
Senator Victor Oh establishing foundation to raise funds to sue Canadian politicians and reporters who ‘smear Chinese people’https://t.co/LkjdpJTORy@scoopercooper @TerryGlavin @JasJohalBC @DouglasTodd @yaozhang02 @rohanarezel @chenzhou63
— Found in Translation 🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@BlueBellsForest) June 22, 2023
'We Support David Johnston', said a banner at the June 24 rally held by an organizer. Weng Zihao (翁子豪), son of Weng Guoning (翁国宁) and leader of a few UFWD youth groups stood beside him with a big smile. Wei Zhentang (唐炜臻), echoed with a bigger smile. @RealAndyLeeShow pic.twitter.com/xI0RhE3l1C
— Found in Translation 🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@BlueBellsForest) June 26, 2023
Ottawazine, a media outlet that meets Chinese diplomats and has an editorial board based in China that attacked Erin O’Toole during the election, features professionally printed signs in an article on the protest against a foreign agent registry.
— Andy Lee - Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) June 26, 2023
“Oppose False Media Reporting!”… https://t.co/MixHDz0YrF pic.twitter.com/nVQUoVyy3h
Records show @SenatorVictorOh was favourite guest of the Motherland, accepted 6 China-paid junkets, more than any other MP or senator. https://t.co/7IpVwdBPVJ #cdnpoli @SenateCA @BlueBellsForest pic.twitter.com/1zIthmz0De
— Blacklock's Reporter (@mindingottawa) June 27, 2023
Senator Woo is a founding member of The ACCT and the non-profit has received over a million dollars in federal contracts since 2020 alone to “combat anti-Asian racism.”
This not-for-profit has (I’m still adding up contracts) received over a million dollars in since 2020 to combat anti-Asian racism.
— Andy Lee - Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) June 25, 2023
Why is it using parliament’s official Senate Zoom account to broadcast a protest against a foreign agent registry, exactly?
Why is anyone using it? https://t.co/hEtPEJBBnq pic.twitter.com/yHMRkhWrkk
Documents show that funding in 2017 to kick off the foundation was provided by now Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly under an “Inter-Action” funding program provided by the Canadian Heritage Department. The ACCT was allocated $158,000 in funding, which was celebrated at a ceremony attended by Senator Woo, Liberal MP Melanie Joly, and Deputy Consul General Gao Zhenting (高振廷), amongst others.
#MelanieJoly allocated a fund of $158K from the Multiculturalism Funding Program for the ACCT, w/ Vice CG in CGY Gao Zhenting (高振廷) attending the founding meeting in Nov 2017.
— VivienTmxk (@VTmxk) June 26, 2023
The CG(戴玉明) in MTL Issued a directive on May 28th.https://t.co/Pzf8yw1Ke8https://t.co/bUb9G4H33b pic.twitter.com/gG1miZG6x9
A statement on foreign interference allegations on the ACCT Foundation’s website parrots Senator Woo and Oh’s statements:
“We are troubled that the current dialogue arose from leaks from unknown sources and spread through innuendo. As a result this issue is now highly sensationalized and reputational and physical harm amongst those within the Chinese Canadian community is a real possibility. Our discourse must always be evidence-based, not just conjectures.
Finally, we ask those who have made allegations of foreign interference to provide the evidence they relied on in making such allegations to the proper authorities and we encourage our media reporting this issue to carefully weigh whether the information they have in their possession support the allegation of interference or whether the information they have demonstrates influence operations during an election campaign in Canada.”
David Johnston’s report, which has been highly praised by foreign-language media outlets backed behind the scenes by Chinese-state media, claimed that after review that there were “no networks” that could be traced back to a coordinated campaign by the PRC.
Posts distributed via a Chinese media network for international students and new immigrants in Canada cite Johnston’s report, and call politicians claiming foreign interference a “laughingstock” that has “no evidence.”
— Andy Lee - Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) June 7, 2023
Glowing reviews of Johnston from Senator Oh are included.… pic.twitter.com/fNiz1hhVTP
The Chinese Exclusion Act was introduced on July 1st, 1923, by the Canadian Government and was a culmination of anti-Chinese policies that had been steadily increasing in Canada since the 19th century. The Act prohibited the reunion of families and required all Chinese - even natural-born citizens-to register with the government and carry identification on them or risk detention or deportation. The legislation was repealed on May 14, 1947.
Calls for a FARA-type (Foreign Agents Registration Act) piece of legislation have been echoed for years in Canada and amplified as of late, given claims of foreign interference. The United States has had similar legislation since 1938.
