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Further and most troubling for me personally is your comment that I am the subject
of an ongoing investigation by CSIS.
Media: Another question to something that is in the news today that CSIS
is investigating a minister of the crown in Ontario, suggesting he was under
the influence of foreign governments because of the amount of time he spent
hanging around with the Chinese consul general. I just wonder in capacity as a
minister, as a federal minister, how much time is too much time to be spending
that would arouse the suspicion of CSIS? Is it appropriate for someone in your
position to have close relationships with these people?
Minister Peter MacKay: It depends on what is being discussed, as in all
cases. And because it is an ongoing investigation, I'm not going to refer to the
specifics of what you've just asked. Clearly there are people outside our country,
as inside our country, who would seek to exert influence. And I think it is fair to
say it is incumbent upon all public officials to be very diligent of how they
conduct themselves and to be wary of that fact; wary of who they're talking to,
wary of what, if anything, they would disclose in those discussions. We are trying
to keep not only Canadians and Canadian interests, and by that I
mean information safe from interests, let's say, that would not be consistent
with our country's best interests. (June 16, 2015)
Two days after making these comments, you denied having made them. As a direct
result of your comments, media from across Canada immediately reported that CSIS
was actively investigating me. You allowed this matter to linger for two days without
clarification, and that is completely unacceptable.
I am requesting a public apology to me personally for your baseless and incorrect
comments.
Sincerely,
Michael Chan