A House of Commons committee has agreed to investigate Canada’s security screening procedures following the arrest of a Canadian NATO intern by Belgian authorities on espionage charges. The decision was made after the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois called for an urgent committee meeting to look into the spying allegations against the intern.
During a meeting of the public safety and national security committee on Monday, Members of Parliament from various parties agreed to schedule three sessions to delve into the issue when Parliament reconvenes in September. The committee plans to summon Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree as a witness and may call other relevant individuals to testify. Subsequently, the committee will present its findings and recommendations to the House.
Although the identity of the defendant in the Belgian courts remains confidential until the trial, a CBC News investigation revealed that the accused spy is Biwei Zhang. Zhang, a systems engineer with an economics background, served as an intern at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium.
It was discovered that Biwei Zhang goes by different names professionally and on social media, such as Claire Zhang and Catina Zhang. Belgian authorities suspect Zhang of espionage on behalf of a foreign nation and involvement in a criminal syndicate.
The allegations against Zhang have raised concerns about Canada’s security screening procedures. Conservative public safety critic Frank Caputo urged parliamentary scrutiny in light of the seriousness of the accusations. Questions have been raised about how an individual accused of espionage managed to secure an internship within a crucial military alliance for Canada, and what security screening measures were in place at the time.
The NATO internship that Zhang obtained required a thorough security clearance, a process overseen by Canadian authorities, including the RCMP and CSIS, due to her Canadian citizenship.
Following the arrest of the alleged spy by Belgian officials, Canada’s public safety minister pledged to investigate the matter thoroughly, emphasizing the gravity of the charges. Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canadian officials have been actively engaged in the case from the outset.
CBC News investigations revealed that Zhang had previously held positions in various Canadian government departments. Her resume indicated past roles as an economist at Statistics Canada and a systems engineer at the Canadian Space Agency. Additionally, in 2023, Zhang was found by the Public Service Commission of Canada to have committed fraud by applying for a position at the Canada Border Services Agency under different identities.
Zhang’s professional history also includes positions at the World Trade Organization in Geneva and the European Space Agency in Italy. She recently completed a master’s degree in computer science specializing in artificial intelligence from the University of Ottawa.
The day before the suspect’s arrest by Belgian authorities for espionage and alleged involvement in a criminal organization, her residence and workplace at SHAPE were searched according to a statement from Belgium’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office.