Conservative and Bloc MPs are urging an urgent meeting of the House of Commons public safety committee to investigate espionage accusations against a Canadian former intern detained by Belgian authorities over suspected espionage activities.
Expressing deep concerns, Conservative MP Frank Caputo emphasized the need to scrutinize Canada’s national security screening procedures. He stressed the importance of assessing potential loopholes in the security system that could have jeopardized sensitive information and the safety of Canada and its allies.
The intern in question, Biwei Zhang, had served as an intern at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium. Although Belgian officials did not disclose her identity, a recent CBC News investigation identified her as Zhang, a systems engineer with an economics background.
Zhang’s online profile indicates past employment with the Canadian Space Agency and Statistics Canada. European security sources, including Reuters, have reported that the intern displayed suspicious behaviors that attracted NATO’s internal security services’ attention. Allegedly, Zhang exhibited excessive curiosity about colleagues, entered restricted areas, and accessed files beyond her professional responsibilities within SHAPE’s IT Department.
Currently detained by Belgian security authorities, Zhang faces unproven allegations. In response to the situation, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has pledged to investigate Zhang’s affiliations with Canadian agencies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The case has prompted concerns regarding Canada’s security screening protocols. Caputo emphasized the importance of understanding how Zhang secured the internship at NATO, the extent of security checks undertaken before granting her access, and whether any red flags were raised by Canadian or allied authorities, as well as the adequacy of monitoring measures in place.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated that Canadian security officials were not caught off guard by the intern’s arrest, reassuring the public of ongoing vigilance in such matters.