Conservative and Bloc MPs are urging the House of Commons public safety committee to hold an emergency meeting to investigate espionage accusations against a former Canadian intern detained in Belgium on suspicion of spying.
Expressing deep concerns, Conservative MP Frank Caputo emphasized the need for Parliament to assess potential gaps in Canada’s security screening procedures that may have jeopardized national security and the safety of Canada and its allies.
The arrested individual, Biwei Zhang, previously interned at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium. While Belgian authorities did not disclose her identity, a CBC News investigation identified Zhang as a systems engineer with an economics background who had previously worked at the Canadian Space Agency and Statistics Canada.
Reports from security sources in Europe, including Reuters, indicate that Zhang allegedly displayed suspicious behavior that triggered scrutiny from NATO’s internal security services. She reportedly showed excessive curiosity about colleagues, accessed unauthorized areas, and viewed files outside her designated responsibilities within SHAPE’s IT Department.
Zhang is currently under detention in Belgium, with the allegations against her yet to be proven in court.
In response to the situation, Caputo announced that the committee will investigate how Zhang secured the internship at NATO, the extent of security screening conducted prior to granting her access, whether any concerns were raised by Canadian or allied authorities, and the adequacy of monitoring procedures.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has pledged to review Canada’s security screening practices and uncover the details surrounding Zhang’s potential affiliations with Canadian agencies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Prime Minister Mark Carney affirmed that Canadian security authorities were actively engaged in the espionage investigation, addressing concerns about the effectiveness of Canada’s security protocols.
