PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE AGREES TO TAKE ON PROBE OF WINNIPEG LAB SCANDAL

A parliamentary committee has agreed to question key witnesses about how two scientists studying deadly viruses at a special lab in Winnipeg were able to work closely and covertly with China.

Conservative MP Michael Chong brought forward a motion to the Canada-China committee Tuesday morning to study the recent release of federal documents related to the dismissal of two scientists — Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and her husband Keding Cheng — from the National Microbiology Lab.

According to the documents made public last month, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) concluded Qiu was "intentionally" sharing scientific information and materials with China — potentially putting people's health in jeopardy.

The intelligence service also said it believed Cheng was not truthful in his interviews and had worked with a restricted visitor at PHAC "who is connected to [China's] People's Liberation Army."

When confronted over her ties to China, "Ms. Qiu continued to make blanket denials, feign ignorance or tell outright lies," said a June 2020 CSIS assessment.

The Public Health Agency of Canada ultimately decided to dismiss the pair, stating that "Dr. Qui represents a very serious and credible danger to the government of Canada."

The motion passed unanimously with minor amendments.

The approved motion calls on multiple players to take questions from committee members, including the head of departmental security at PHAC, CSIS director David Vigneault, the prime minister's national security adviser Nathalie Drouin and members of cabinet, including Health Minister Mark Holland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc. 

According to reporting from The Globe and Mail, Qiu and Cheng are now working in China.

2024-03-26T14:58:12Z dg43tfdfdgfd