The RCMP has concluded its inquiry into alleged underground Chinese police facilities in the Montreal region without recommending any charges. The federal law enforcement agency stated it will persist in its endeavors to counteract foreign interference, harassment, or threats against the Chinese community.
This decision follows a $4.9 million defamation lawsuit filed against the RCMP by the Chinese Family Services of Greater Montreal and the Centre Sino-Québec de la Rive-Sud, along with their executive director, Xixi Li. They claim the RCMP unjustly linked them to foreign meddling and operating illicit police stations for China without a thorough investigation. The accused organizations have consistently refuted these allegations.
The legal dispute was initiated in March 2024, asserting that the accusations have resulted in a financial loss of $3.2 million, including revoked government funding. Xixi Li, who also serves as a city councilor in Brossard, Quebec, expressed relief at the investigation’s conclusion, mentioning the personal toll endured and the support received throughout the process.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme defended the investigation, stating that credible grounds justified the probe, which originated from a 2022 report by Safeguard Defenders, detailing over 50 such stations globally, including some in the Greater Toronto Area. The allegations subsequently expanded to Quebec and British Columbia, implicating the two Montreal-area organizations.
The RCMP’s initial concerns involved the use of these alleged stations to exert influence on the Chinese community in Canada, potentially through coercion tactics involving individuals’ connections in China. Additionally, the RCMP highlighted that some of the suspected activities were intertwined with legitimate services offered to the Chinese Canadian community.
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