Public Safety Minister Concedes Security Gaps

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree admitted there are gaps in the government’s security clearance process after a Canadian woman of Chinese origin was arrested for spying at NATO headquarters.

“I think there’s over 200,000 screenings that are undertaken every year”

Minister Acknowledges Need for Improvement

Anandasangaree stated the security clearance process has an unimpeachable record but admitted gaps exist that need improvement.

“By and large, it is an unimpeachable record. Of course, there are gaps here, and I recognize that there are gaps, and that’s what I think we need to improve on.”

Key Questions Unanswered

The meeting did not provide answers on what the gaps are, what the government knew about Biwei Zhang’s past, or how she kept her clearance despite integrity concerns.

Conservative and Bloc MPs Express Concern

Conservative and Bloc Québécois MPs criticized the case as a stain on Canada’s international reputation and called for accountability.

“I don’t feel like we have any further … answers, I should say, on something that is a very serious matter”

Bloc MP Highlights Incompetence

Bloc MP Claude De Bellefeuille accused the government of sizeable incompetence and a lack of rigour in the security clearance process.

“I cannot believe that this person who had fake names… applied twice to CBSA and (has) Facebook accounts under two names succeeded in getting her security clearance”

Minister Faces Criticism on Process Weakness

Anandasangaree was criticized for the weakness in security processes that allow individuals to bypass checks despite previous concerns about integrity.

“Sure, because of the investigation you can’t tell us anything, but it’s a demonstration of the weakness of your processes… and if I was the public safety minister, I would not be happy to see that the group that is meant to protect us are very lax”