Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree emphasized the need to address deficiencies in Canada’s security screening following the detention of a Canadian intern working for NATO in Belgium on charges of espionage. Anandasangaree faced intense questioning from members of the House of Commons public safety and national security committee regarding how the intern obtained security clearance from Ottawa to work at the military alliance.
The intern was apprehended by Belgian authorities on July 24, accused of spying for a third country and being associated with a criminal organization, with reports linking the suspected third country to China. Anandasangaree disclosed that he had requested the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to investigate the incident and is currently reviewing their recommendations.
Acknowledging the approximately 200,000 annual screenings conducted by government departments with the support of CSIS and the RCMP, Anandasangaree admitted that while the majority of screenings have been solid, there are identifiable gaps that necessitate improvement.
The accused intern, identified as Biwei Zhang, a systems engineer with an economic background, was working as an intern at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium. Zhang also goes by the names Claire Zhang professionally and Catina Zhang on her Facebook profile. A CBC News investigation revealed that in 2023, Zhang was found to have engaged in fraudulent activities while applying for a position at the Canada Border Services Agency.
CSIS informed the committee that employment at NATO typically requires a secret level clearance or higher, prompting inquiries into how the intern was granted clearance despite the prior fraud findings.
Conservative MP Rhonda Kirkland raised concerns about the screening process for federal government roles, questioning how individuals who deceive during the application process are not identified more rigorously. The minister and senior officials refrained from providing detailed information due to the ongoing investigation.
The committee’s inquiry was initiated by the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois to ascertain whether Canada overlooked any warning signs or indicators. Conservative MP Frank Caputo criticized the situation, labeling it as “disgraceful” that Belgium uncovered the spying incident involving a Canadian rather than Canada itself.
The case has sparked a debate on Canada’s international reputation, with Zhang’s employment history showing previous roles at Statistics Canada and the Canadian Space Agency. The Chinese Embassy in Canada has vehemently denied any assertions linking Zhang’s actions to Beijing, while Zhang remains in custody in Belgium.
