Toronto MP Han Dong is suing Global News and its parent company, Corus Entertainment, over stories he says portrayed him as a “traitor” and a knowing participant in Chinese interference in Canada.
In March, Global published a story citing unidentified security sources who alleged Dong told a Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that releasing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor would benefit the Conservatives.
- The two Canadian men at that time had been detained in China since December 2018, just over a week after the RCMP arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition warrant.
- Global had previously published allegations that Dong benefited from Chinese foreign interference in his successful bid to become the Liberal candidate for his riding in 2019, which is also included in the lawsuit.
Shortly after the allegations about his conversation regarding Kovrig and Spavor were published, Dong resigned from the Liberal caucus to sit as the Independent MP for Don Valley North.
He told the House of Commons he would defend himself against “absolutely untrue claims.” The next day, he voted with opposition parties in favour of a public inquiry into foreign meddling in Canada’s elections.
Rishma Govani, a spokeswoman for Global News and Corus Entertainment, said in an email Thursday night that she was unable to provide further comment, but referred to an earlier statement.
“Global News is governed by a rigorous set of Journalistic Principles and Practices. We are very mindful of the public interest and legal responsibility of this important accountability reporting,” she wrote.
Dong, whose statement of claim has not been tested in court, also wants Global to remove the stories and broadcasts.
“These allegations were made by anonymous sources whose credibility and reliability were assumed, rather than vigorously tested,” said the statement of claim.
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It also says that Dong won a “hard-fought race” for the 2019 Liberal nomination and followed all election rules.
The statement claims that Global did not review a transcript or recording of the February 2021 conversation between Dong and Han Tao, the Chinese consul general in Toronto, which is at the heart of the allegations.
It also says that Dong won a “hard-fought race” for the 2019 Liberal nomination and followed all election rules.
The statement claims that Global did not review a transcript or recording of the February 2021 conversation between Dong and Han Tao, the Chinese consul general in Toronto, which is at the heart of the allegations.
Source: GLOBALNEWS.CA
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