Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Mar 24, 2023 2:20 AM

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File photo of the Liberal leader of Canada, Justin Trudeau, shaking hands with provincial candidate Han Dong, right, on May 22, 2014. Liberal MP Han Dong, at the centre of allegations involving Chinese government interference in Canada's affairs, says he is leaving the Liberal caucus and will sit as an Independent. His comments follow a story from Global News, alleging Dong advised a senior Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that Beijing should hold off on freeing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor � the two Canadians being held by China at the time. Their detention is widely considered to be a retaliatory action in response to the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada in 2018 following an extradition request from the U.S. The Global story cited two unnamed national security sources who said Dong made the suggestion because their release would be helpful to the Conservatives. Dong confirmed to Global that he had a discussion with Consul General Han Tao, but denied that he advised Beijing to delay releasing Kovrig and Spavor. (Liberal Party of Canada/Handout via EYEPRESS)