Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces accusations of concealing security breaches at a high-risk laboratory in Winnipeg. Opposition leader Pierre Pollievre asserts that Trudeau “allowed” China to infiltrate the lab, raising concerns about national security.
During a press conference, Pollievre presented documents purportedly revealing a “massive security breach at the Trudeau government’s most sensitive laboratory.” He emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Where the most dangerous viruses and pathogens are studied and handled. We’ve learned that the Trudeau government’s head of pathogens was collaborating with members of China’s People’s Liberation Army responsible for bio-weapons and bio-terrorism.”
The disclosed documents suggest that Chinese officials were permitted entry into the lab, accessing sensitive information potentially compromising Canada’s security.
The Winnipeg Lab Controversy
In 2019, the federal government terminated the employment of two prominent scientists, Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and her husband Keding Cheng, although their dismissals weren’t announced until January 2021. The revelation of documents detailing their firing shed light on the situation. It was disclosed that Canadian intelligence agencies conducted multiple screenings, concluding that Dr. Qiu had “intentionally” shared scientific information with China.
A report from the Public Health Agency of Canada in 2020 underscored the severity of the situation, stating, “Dr. Qiu represents a very serious and credible danger to the government of Canada as a whole and, in particular, at facilities considered high-security due to the potential for theft of dangerous materials attractive to terrorist and foreign entities conducting espionage.”
Trudeau has previously accused China of interference in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 elections. Following the Winnipeg incident, he noted an escalation in the threat from China. However, the opposition alleges that Trudeau’s administration has spent years attempting to conceal these lapses, while Trudeau’s camp has dismissed such claims as conspiracies.
