Canada’s Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) reportedly held a closed-door briefing in July for Richmond, British Columbia, Mayor Malcolm Brodie and city councilors, warning that the municipal election scheduled for October 17 could face Chinese Communist Party (CCP) interference, including influence operations targeting the city’s Chinese Canadian community. According to The Bureau, the briefing was led by a senior CSIS regional official and relied primarily on previously public information, including cases discussed by the Hogue Commission on foreign interference.
CSIS reportedly warned that individuals with ties to the CCP could approach Richmond candidates during the campaign in an effort to influence the electoral process and undermine its integrity. While CSIS declined to confirm or deny the specific briefing, a spokesperson said recent amendments to the CSIS Act allow the agency to share information about national security threats with organizations beyond the federal government, including local governments, academia, businesses, and community groups.
The warning follows previous reports of Chinese interference in British Columbia elections. Former Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West have said they received similar warnings from CSIS. A 2024 investigation by the Commissioner of Canada Elections also found evidence of foreign interference targeting the Chinese Canadian community during the 2021 federal election. The investigation found that former Conservative candidate Kenny Chiu became a target after supporting Uyghur human rights, Hong Kong democracy, and a foreign-agent registry, with Chinese consular officials and community organizations allegedly portraying him negatively to Chinese Canadian voters.
Source: Epoch Times, August 2, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/8/2/n14822025.htm