The RCMP has concluded its inquiry into purported covert Chinese police facilities in the Montreal region and is not suggesting any charges. Despite this, the federal police agency affirms its commitment to thwart foreign meddling, harassment, or threats against the Chinese diaspora.
The closure of the investigation coincides with a $4.9 million defamation lawsuit against the parties implicated in the investigation. Cpl. Erique Gasse, in an email response, refrained from providing detailed comments due to the ongoing legal processes.
The lawsuit, initiated in March 2024 by Chinese Family Services of Greater Montreal, the Centre Sino-Québec de la Rive-Sud, and their executive director, Xixi Li, alleges that the RCMP unjustly linked them to foreign interference and operating illicit police facilities on behalf of the People’s Republic of China without conducting a proper inquiry. The organizations have consistently refuted these accusations.
Upon filing the lawsuit, the groups stated that the allegations had already incurred them $3.2 million, including the loss of government funding.
Xixi Li, who is also a council member in Brossard, Quebec, expressed relief over the conclusion of the investigation. She described the past few years as a period where her life was at a standstill and she faced disparagement from certain individuals. Li acknowledged the continued support she received during the ordeal and affirmed her dedication to serving the public with honesty, openness, and determination.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme acknowledged that facing lawsuits for conducting investigations was not a new experience for the police force, maintaining that the probe was based on credible grounds.
The investigation originated in 2022 when Safeguard Defenders, a human rights organization based in Spain, disclosed the existence of over 50 such facilities globally, including three in the Greater Toronto Area. Subsequently, allegations expanded to Quebec and British Columbia, leading to the identification of the two Montreal organizations.
During the course of the investigation, RCMP officers asserted that these facilities were utilized to exert pressure on members of the Chinese community in Canada, at times through threats to friends or relatives residing in China. The RCMP also highlighted that some of the activities under scrutiny were happening at sites where other legitimate services for the Chinese Canadian community were provided.
