2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback XSE– Great All-rounder!

March 6, 2023

Auto review by Veeno Dewan

The Toyota Corolla hatchback is a five-door version of the trusty Corolla sedan and an interesting addition to the range. sitting taller, and boxier than the Corolla sedan. It a cool, neat looking car that is extremely attractive with the black roof option- especially on our red “Finish Line” painted tester. Smart gloss black painted18-inch wheels finished off the sporty, cheeky styled car. Interior wise, there is more room and versatility than the Corolla sedan The cabin design is smart, modern, and nicely finished. Entry, exit and good visibility is also a plus for families with kids and older buyers.

The Corolla HB is powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine delivering 169 hp in conjunction with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

In terms of models and pricing, the 2023 Corolla HB has a starting price of $23,490 for the base model, which includes the Toyota Safety Sense suite of safety systems. The range continues with: LE, LE Premium and XLE trims. The entry-level L trim has heated front seats, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, power windows and locks, air conditioning, and heated door mirrors among others standard features.

The LE adds alloy wheels, tinted windows, automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, an eight-inch touchscreen, and two USB ports on the rear of the centre console. The top XLE Option pack as fitted to our tester included: XSE – Premium Colour with Black Roof $7,195. wireless Charging, Heated Steering Wheel, Heated Front Seats, Blind Spot Monitor with RCTA, Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel, Heated Exterior Mirrors, 8-way Power Adjustable Drivers Seat, Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control, 8 Speaker JBL Audio System, Mixed Fabric and SofTex Seats, Fog Lamps, 7-in. Colour TFT Multi Information Display plus Toyota Roadside Assistance Included 3 Years or 60,000 km

The interior features a neat cabin with well-designed ergonomics and controls. The driver’s seat is supportive, and its a typically comfortable, high- quality Toyota interior. Front seats are beautifully finished in a mix of fabric and leather and heated, but no heated rear seats are available. There’s less rear legroom than the Corolla sedan, but the back seat is roomier. Rear cargo space with all seats up is 722 L and reduces to 688 L in the AWD version. However, one nice touch is the 60/40 rear seats fold flat with the load floor, with 1,900 L of total space with the rear seats down.

As with all Toyota’s safety features are good, with forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, as well as automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and following assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and adaptive cruise control that works in stop-and-go traffic. The XLE trim also adds low-speed reverse automatic braking.

On the road, with 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, the Corolla will not win the stoplight Grand Prix! with the CVT’s somewhat sluggish acceleration on hard starts as the engine exerts itself moving the weight of the AWD system and mass of this crossover. More power would not go amiss here! The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is not the quickest transmission , a common issue with the CVT format. Despite the underwhelming acceleration, the Corolla HB is a capable, comfortable cruiser once it gets going and performs well on the highway. Overall ride quality is good, and the Toyota Corolla HB has excellent handling, comfort, and composure. Actually, the sprightly handling is very enjoyable and the light point and shoot steering had me hankering back to the hot hatches of my youth! Fuel economy, is also good, with the AWD variant delivering a combined rating of 7.8L/100 km

To sum up, highlights include the good looks, impressive passenger and cargo space, versatile practicality, and fairly good fuel economy figures. Finally, and of course, there are the tried and trusted Corolla bones. A good buy all around and recommended.

2022 Toyota Corolla Hatchback: Priced from – $24,890 – $33,990. Price as tested: $32,573 including options, freight and PDI.

More info at www.toyota.ca

The 2023 Lexus UX 250h AWD: Luxury Hybrid is Good Value for Money

March 4, 2023

Auto review by Veeno Dewan

The 2023 Lexus UX 250h is an all-wheel drive. self-charging compact hybrid Crossover. Highpoints include the edgy design and its relatively affordable cost as the smallest premium hybrid model in the Lexus lineup. Despite the tempting price point- Lexus still offer a well- equipped base model and a plethora of tech and luxury upgrades packages and options. The UX 250h is a rarity- a compact luxury premium offering with a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain.
The UX 250h AWD features the fourth generation of the Lexus Self-Charging Hybrid Electric system. This powertrain combines a 2.0L four-cylinder engine, electronic continuously variable transmission, and high-torque electric motors to generate 181 net system horsepower. The UX 250h also features an innovative electronic on-demand AWD system for better control and ride in slippery and rough terrain .
The 2023 Lexus UX 250h AWD is available in a choice of model and trim combinations and is base priced very well. There is an impressive suite of upgrades, including Lexus Navigation with Remote (Remote Connect, Service Connect, Safety Connect, Embedded Navigation, Destination Assist) with a 10.3” touch screen display and eight speaker premium sound system.
The as-tested 2023 Lexus UX 250h AWD (starting MSRP: $41, 500)f featured the optional F SPORT DESIGN package ($2,150.) with unique styling features – including: black F SPORT 18” wheels, Heated Front Seats, Power Slide / Tilt Moonroof, Smart Key w/Push Button Start, Apple CarPlay compatibility, Paddle Shifters, Ventilated Front Seats , SiriusXM Satellite Radio, LED Fog Lamps, Driver Seat Memory, F-SPORT Steering Wheel, LED Cornering Lamps, 8 Speakers, F SPORT Nuluxe™ Seats, full TFT Instrument Cluster, Digital Instrument Cluster and much more.
Safety, of course, is a high point with all Lexus models and the UX gains: Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking with bike and pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist and more.
Interior wise, the UX 250h features a premium interior so befitting a Lexus. The materials, fabrics and textures are all high quality, and the dash is highly detailed featuring the available 10.25-inch infotainment display. Nice UX features include the unique contrast-color dash and door trim option, and the slick climate system is operated by cool toggle switches. The air vents have little rotary controllers that look and feel very good. There is of course as standard Lexus interior styling, sumptuous leather trim, high quality plastics and a premium feel to all the controls. There is a chunky steering wheel, well designed gauge cluster and the signature Lexus analogue clock. The center touch screen also doubles as a back up camera. Up front room is good with supportive seats. The rear compartment is roomy with comfortable back seats, but a little short on legroom.
The rear cabin is fitted out to the same standard as the front apart from the hard plastic door panels. Cargo space is a little on the stingy side with UX 250h offering 614 litres of space behind its back seat, and that is also somewhat compromised by the higher load floor. However, The UX offers folding rear seats that also increase the cargo capacity.
On the road, the latest UX 250h is an even better experience with the latest engineering tweaks improving ride, handling, and performance. The engine delivers more than adequate performance and the hybrid- gas engine handover works seamlessly offering decent acceleration. The damping improvements makes itself apparent when the UX 250h is pushed into hard corners – body roll is more controlled and the UX is largely unruffled when accelerating, cornering, or driving on slippery surfaces. An additional electric motor at the back of the vehicle automatically adjusts the power-split between front and rear axles. The result is excellent handling stability and greater traction across a range of driving situations. Fuel efficiency is very good, rated at 6.0 L / 100 km (city/highway combined).
Not much to complain about the UX 250h. The touchpad controller and the Remote Touch tech interface is still a tad fiddly to operate, and the UX series can become expensive if you start adding options. Other weak points include the out of place rather hard plastic door panels in the rear
High point include the affordability factor of this compact, fuel-efficient luxury CUV. The UX 250h remains one of the better hybrids buys in this sector with the highest quality, reliability, and an excellent dealership experience. Highly recommended and unique in its class.

2023 Lexus UX 250h AWD: Base priced from $41,500. Price as tested: $45,983 including options, freight and PDI.
Website: www.lexus.ca/ux

Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent, who starred in ‘Away From Her,’ has died at 92

February 27, 2023

Gordon Pinsent, the adored Canadian actor whose career hit its peak well into his 70s with an award-winning performance as the heartbroken husband in “Away From Her,” has died.
Pinset died on Saturday evening at age 92, his friend actor Mark Critch confirmed.
The Newfoundland native, a household name in Canada for decades after his many appearances on stage and screen, became known internationally after his Genie Award-winning turn as Grant in Sarah Polley’s acclaimed directorial debut.
His dignified portrayal so impressed Daniel Day-Lewis, who went on to win the best actor Oscar in 2008 for “There Will Be Blood,” that he sent an email to Polley praising Pinsent’s performance as one of the most “astonishing” he’d ever seen.
Those types of kudos tickled the modest Pinsent. Well into the final years of his life, the actor remained mischievous, giggly and often as giddy as a schoolboy whenever any praise was sent his way.
“Now you see, I don’t talk that way about myself, so I was pleased _ it was just terrific,” Pinsent said with a laugh in an interview with The Canadian Press of Day-Lewis’s email and the continuing raves he was getting for “Away From Her,” especially since he didn’t garner the kind of international awards recognition some critics said he deserved for the role.
Pinsent was “suave, classy elegant, well-spoken,” said Critch, a fellow Newfoundlander and family friend who says he became close with Pinsent after working they worked together on a YouTube project.
Actors in Canada are following “on a path that (Pinsent) cut through a forest,” said Critch in a phone interview.
“He never forgot anything. Like he would call you on Christmas, he’d call you on your birthday, he’d call you on Father’s Day, and we’d have a Facetime or a call,” said Critch.
“I will miss my great mentor and this hero, this giant colossus of Canadian entertainment, but I’ll miss my friend Gordon Pinsent from Newfoundland because he was an even better friend than he was an actor,” said Critch.
Born in Grand Falls, N.L., in 1930, Pinsent was the youngest of six children born to Stephen Pinsent, a papermill worker and cobbler, and his wife, Flossie.
The actor described himself as an awkward child who once suffered from rickets. His schoolmates called him “Porky.”

By Lee-Anne Goodman
The Canadian Press

B.C. premier says some deficits require spending as NDP prepares to table budget

February 27, 2023

Victoria: British Columbia’s New Democrat government has been tackling some of the province’s fundamental deficits in recent months by spending billions in surplus dollars, says Premier David Eby.
But while leaner economic times are expected on the horizon, he said the budget the government tables Tuesday will continue investing in health care, housing and affordability.
The government’s recent throne speech acknowledges the projected $5.7 billion surplus from last year’s budget won’t be there, but pledges “record new investments” in health care and housing for middle-class families.
“Putting resources when we have the ability to do that now is important,” Eby said. “There are people who say that we shouldn’t be doing that, that now’s the time to pull back.”
Eby, sworn in late last year to replace former premier John Horgan, said the budget introduced by Finance Minister Katrine Conroy will put people first.
“Maybe we should not be putting resources into disaster prevention,” he said. “Maybe we shouldn’t be putting resources into investing into municipal infrastructure for fast-growing communities. That would be different politically, perhaps between us and the other party, the B.C. Liberals.”
Budgets are about choices, Eby said Saturday.
“Our priorities are your priorities, and the budget will reflect them,” he said at a news conference where he reflected on his first 100 days in office. “We’ll be building affordable housing, expanding access to health care, including mental health care and addiction treatment.”
Since taking office, Eby has introduced initiatives amounting to $2 billion in affordability measures, $1 billion towards municipal infrastructure projects and $500 million towards protecting rental housing.
B.C.’s economy is one of the strongest in Canada and the government will continue to invest in areas that help people despite the prospect of a reduced surplus, Eby said.
“Our government believes that there are other deficits other than just fiscal when we are talking about the future of the province.”
Eby said government programs to help build recreation centres, pave roads and upgrade sewer systems also address local deficits.

By Dirk Meissner
The Canadian Press

B.C. First Nation to release results of search for unmarked graves at school site

February 21, 2023

PORT ALBERNI, B.C.: A British Columbia First Nation is releasing the results of a preliminary search for unmarked graves on the grounds of a former residential school.

The Tseshaht First Nation is presenting its search results in Port Alberni, B.C., after 18 months of planning and operations at the former site of the Alberni Indian Residential School.

Tseshaht Nation officials say children from at least 100 Indigenous communities attended the school when it operated from 1900 to 1973.

B.C. land surveyor GeoScan has been working on the project, using ground-penetrating radar to detect possible grave sites at the Alberni school location.

The company, which has worked at other residential school sites, began scanning at Port Alberni in July 2022.

Tseshaht Elected Chief Councillor Wahmeesh, whose English name is Ken Watts, says it’s essential to embark on what he calls “this journey of truth” despite the process being difficult for survivors.

Officials say health and wellness support staff will be on-site to assist if necessary.

Trudeau government mum on Japan’s invitation to rejoin global timber treaty

February 21, 2023

Ottawa: The federal Liberal government has yet to respond to a months-old invitation from Tokyo to have Canada rejoin a global environmental organization that regulates the timber trade.
A July 2022 briefing note obtained through an
access-to-information request shows that Japan has asked Ottawa to
be part of the International Tropical Timber Organization.
The group works with producer and consumer countries to share knowledge about conservation practices and to promote the sale of sustainable timber.
The organization currently includes 37 exporters of timber and 38 countries that import it, including all other G7 states.
Canada was among the signatories to the 1983 treaty that originally created the organization, but Stephen Harper’s Conservative government pulled out of it in 2013.
The same year, Harper’s government also pulled Canada out of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, a move the Trudeau government reversed in 2016.
But Canada has now been absent from the timber organization for nearly a decade, during which the World Wildlife Fund has reported worsening tropical deforestation in parts of southern Africa and Peru, driven by illegal and unsustainable logging.
A briefing note prepared for International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan notes Japan’s invitation to rejoin but doesn’t specify when it was made.
“Sustainable forest products, limiting deforestation and combating illegal logging are priorities for Canada,” reads the July 2022 briefing note, prepared in advance of a call with Japan’s then-state minister of foreign affairs, Takako Suzuki.
The document recommended to Sajjan that if Suzuki made note of Tokyo’s previous invitation, he should respond that Canada “will consider rejoining” but note that Canada’s “re-entry would require a long parliamentary accession process.”
Six months later, Natural Resources Canada says it “continues to actively consider whether to rejoin the treaty” but will not elaborate on that process.
“The government strongly supports global efforts to promote sustainable forest management and halt deforestation,” spokesman Michael MacDonald wrote in an email.
“Canada left the treaty in 2013 in part because it does not have tropical forests,” MacDonald wrote _ despite 38 other non-tropical countries being members of the group.
He noted that Canada has signed onto similar agreements, such as the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use.
MacDonald said Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson was not available for an interview.
The Conservatives, Bloc Quebecois, NDP and Green Party did not respond to requests for comment before deadline.

By Dylan Robertson
The Canadian Press

2023 Mazda CX-9 Signature: Luxury SUV Pampers!

February 21, 2023

Auto review by Veen Dewan

Sleek, expensive looking with a sporty edge to it, the five-door three-row mid-size 2023 Mazda CX-9 seats six or seven people, depending on whether you get a model with a second-row bench seat or captain’s chairs. The CX-9 is a bit of an enigma; build quality, interior fit and finish are way above its class – nudging into Lexus and Audi territory. You will find real wood inlays, rich quilted leather- piped seats, weighted switch gear, and real aluminum accents for defining touches. Not much is new of this model year, however All-wheel drive becomes standard across the range. There are no significant changes for the 2023 Model year.
Power for all trims comes from the Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine making 227 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine’s mated to Mazda’s 6-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive. The entry-level GS model ($40,950) comes standard with Mazda’s i-Activsense safety features, heated front seats, Apple CarPlay and Android compatibility, 18-inch dark grey metallic finish aluminum alloy wheels and other creature comforts. An upscale GS-L version is also available with leather seating, The CX-9 GT, with a host of extra comfort and safety features costs $49,950. The Kuro Edition adds mostly cosmetic visual upgrades and is priced at $51,450.
The luxury Signature model ($54,050) as tested adds yet more content, with: 20 inch alloy wheels, upgraded dual chrome exhausts, LED headlights with signature lighting, signature grille illumination, power rear liftgate with programmable height adjust and with hands-free access, Our tester came fully equipped with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5 Turbo, SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift mode and Drive Selection switch, paddle shifters, G-Vectoring Control Plus, i-ACTIV AWD, Off-Road Traction system.
Interior features included: heated front and second-row seats, ventilated front seats, Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay, and charging as well as 12-speaker Bose audio, three-zone climate control and heated steering wheel. Also available is Deep Chestnut or pure white Nappa leather upholstery, quilting and piping on seats, premium cross stitching on steering wheel, Santos Rosewood trim on centre console panel and door switch panel, LED interior lighting. The rear compartment featured: second row Captain’s chairs with premium centre console armrest and storage compartment, plus 2 additional USB ports in the 3rd row.
Top marks for the high-quality cabin materials and intuitive infotainment controls. Its just the right amount of class and cool and really lifts the cabin with a dramatic effect. Enter and you are greeted by a roomy, elegantly neat interior. CX-9. Front passengers have plenty of legroom and headroom, while second-row passengers get slightly less, but still generous room. The third room seats is perfect for kids, and still manages to seat two for short drives. Egress is made a little easier if you have the second-row captain chairs. Otherwise, the available sliding and reclining second-row seats makes it easier to access the third row as well. The first and second rows seats are roomier, there are cupholders and storage bins on either side, too, as well as two of the six USB ports. The rear seats do fold providing 1,082 litres of cargo space. With both rear seats down, there is 2,017 L of cargo room.
On the road, the CX-9; s 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine’s horsepower and torque vary depending on which octane fuel you use. With regular gas, the turbo-four makes 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Premium 93-95 gasoline ups those figures to 250 and 320, respectively.
This turbocharged engine has good pickup and acceleration and offers a decent amount of power when needed. The CX-9’s six-speed transmission is glitch free and operates well with the turbo four – cylinder. In terms of ride and handling – no surprises here. Stable, composed cornering is a given, with the precise pin-sharp steering and G-Vectoring control. The ride is generally comfortable too, although the CX-9 begs to be driven more sportily.
The CX-9 towing capacity has a max towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, a way down than others in its class. However, fuel economy is impressive, rated at city/highway: 11.6/9.0L/100 km. To sum up, very little negatives for the CX-9. The third row is tight on space as is overall cargo space, and although it’s not as quick as some rivals, steering feel and performance were excellent; The 2023 Mazda CX-9 lands near the top of the midsize SUV class thanks in part to its dynamic performance and handling, along with its opulent, luxurious cabin and excellent gas mileage. A winner all the way and comes highly recommended.
2023 Mazda CX-9 priced from: $40,950 – $51,450. Signature model as tested- $55100 – Including options, freight and PDE

WEBSITE: www.mazda.ca

Former MP says Canada has become ‘open market’ for foreign interference in elections

February 20, 2023

Richmond, B.C.: A former British Columbia member of Parliament said he fears Canada has become an “open market” for foreign governments to sway elections after being named in a newspaper report as the target of an alleged campaign by Chinese diplomats to defeat him.
Kenny Chiu, a Conservative who lost his seat of Steveston-Richmond East in the 2021 election, said Friday he was not surprised by the report in the Globe and Mail citing Canadian
intelligence documents and describing alleged efforts to oust candidates seen as unfriendly to Beijing.
Chiu, who has previously said he was targeted by pre-election misinformation on Chinese-language social media, said there had been a lack of action from Ottawa on foreign interests operating in Canadian politics.
While he said he felt vindicated by Friday’s report, Chiu said his “overwhelming emotion is one of being gravely concerned” about Canada’s national security situation and the ability of “predatorial regimes” such as China, Russia and Iran to influence votes here.
“The integrity of our political system, it’s the cornerstone, the foundation of our country,” Chiu said. “And if we cannot protect it and guarantee it and allow foreign countries to influence and interfere with it, it puts question in our democratic system.”
Chiu said he was frustrated that more wasn’t being done by Parliament to counter foreign interference in elections.
“I’m just sick and tired of these people (who) just keep on sending virtual signals but drag their feet,” he says.
The Globe and Mail report says Canadian Security Intelligence Service documents describe Tong Xiaoling, then Chinese consul general in Vancouver, boasting about a strategy that led to the defeat of two Conservative MPs in 2021, whom she does not name.
Chiu and then-Richmond Centre MP Alice Wong, also a Conservative, both lost their seats in 2021 after suffering large drops in vote share. Richmond has a large population of Chinese immigrants.
Wong did not respond to requests for comment.
In September 2021, an analysis from a federal research unit said researchers observed Chinese Communist Party accounts on Chinese-language social media spreading a narrative that the Conservatives would drastically curtail ties with Beijing.

Time in Canada to debate whether notwithstanding clause should exist, says Liberal MP

February 20, 2023

Ottawa: A Liberal MP from Montreal says it is time for the country to debate whether the notwithstanding clause should be on the books.

Sameer Zuberi’s comments come after a week where the Bloc Quebecois forced parties in the House of Commons to vote on whether they felt provinces had the legitimate right to use the constitutional power however they wanted, including pre-emptively.

Both the Liberals and federal New Democrats voted down the motion to defeat it, while the Conservatives supported the Bloc’s call.

The notwithstanding clause is a provision in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that allows provincial and federal governments to pass laws that circumvent parts of the Charter for a period of up to five years.

While it’s not new, debate around its use has heated up in recent years as provinces such as Ontario and Quebec have invoked it pre-emptively, effectively preventing anyone from launching a legal challenge in court.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault’s government used it pre-emptively to usher in his government’s secularism law, known as Bill 21, which prohibits public servants in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols on the job.

“When you have the usage of the notwithstanding clause being enacted in such a way that it eliminates rights from people, then it calls into question the very clause itself,” Zuberi said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has criticized the pre-emptive use of the provision and during a 2021 interview told The Canadian Press he shares the disdain his father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, had for its place in the Charter. It was a demand from provinces the elder Trudeau acquiesced to during the 1982 constitutional negotiations.

But that is as far as the current prime minister has gone in his criticisms. Zuberi stopped short of directly calling for the Liberal government to reopen the Charter, saying only “there should be a debate within society, and also within governments on this issue.”

Asked about the possible implications of revisiting contentious constitutional negotiations, particularly when Canada is facing issues such as high inflation, Zuberi said “just because this subject is complicated, doesn’t mean that we should shy away from approaching it.”

Zuberi currently sits as a backbench member of the government, first elected in 2019 in the reliably Liberal riding of Pierrefonds_Dollard in Montreal.

As the only Muslim MP in Quebec, Zuberi said he knows his comments around Bill 21, which he opposes, are perceived differently.

And although he believes Quebecers’ view of the law is changing, he believes it is important to tell those affected that they could be in for a long battle.

Earlier in the week, he told a Senate committee studying the issue of Islamophobia that he sees the five-year sunset rule on the clause’s application as a chance for the law to be revisited, expressing hope it could fall in the next 10 to 15 years.

“We need to be realistic and not pretend things aren’t as they are,” he said, saying if the law does not fall through the courts, the only other recourse is at the ballot box.

The Quebec Court of Appeal is expected to release a ruling on the constitutionality of Legault’s use of the notwithstanding clause to enact the law, challenged by several civil liberties groups and the National Council of Canadian Muslims. A 2021 ruling by Superior Court Justice Marc-Andre Blanchard said while the law had “cruel” and “dehumanizing” consequences, it was mostly legal.

Trudeau has committed to intervene in the case if it arrives at the Supreme Court of Canada.

National Council of Canadian Muslims CEO Stephen Brown said Friday he believes the court challenge will be successful, but said it is “absolutely necessary” to convene lawmakers, activists and other members of civil society to examine the clause itself.

Zuberi said his message when he speaks to those affected by the legislation is to stay engaged.

“We obviously hope that legislation will fall through the courts in the short term, but it’s possible that this might not happen” he said.

“People have to understand that and be prepared for that midterm struggle. And I think it’s a disservice for those who are directly impacted to not understand that.”

By Stephanie Taylor
The Canadian Press

Chinese consulate general says report could damage China’s relationship with Canada

February 20, 2023

4081ee68-7d6b-4929-b4a7-218aadf87747 — Photo: Nepal Foreign Affairs

Vancouver: The Chinese consulate-general in Vancouver has called a newspaper report that cited Canadian intelligence documents and described alleged efforts to oust candidates seen as unfriendly to Beijing, “smearing and discrediting” to China.

The consulate general says in a news release it is dissatisfied and is in “firm opposition” to the report.

It says China has never interfered in any Canadian election or internal affairs in any way, and the reporting could damage the country’s relationship with Canada.

The Globe and Mail report, released Friday, says Canadian Security Intelligence Service documents describe then-Chinese consul-general in Vancouver Tong Xiaoling boasting about a strategy that led to the defeat of two Conservative MPs in 2021.

Conservatives Kenny Chiu, who had represented Steveston-Richmond East, and then-Richmond Centre MP Alice Wong both both lost their seats in 2021 after suffering large drops in vote share.

Richmond has a large population of Chinese immigrants.

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