Cabinet aides in a secret 2017 memo told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to avoid public criticism of China despite evidence Communist Party agents were committing crimes in Canada. Cabinet was attempting to negotiate a Chinese free trade pact at the time.

“The Canadian Security Intelligence Service describes Chinese foreign influence activities in Canada as sophisticated, pervasive and persistent,” said the June 29, 2017 Memorandum For The Prime Minister. “Although there are other countries conducting foreign influenced activities in Canada the People’s Republic of China is the most active.”