RCMP arrests Chinese man for spying on Canada

This morning, the RCMP along with the Toronto Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police detailed circumstances that led to the arrest of 53-year-old Qing Quentin Huang of Toronto.

Mr. Huang has been charged under the security of information act with two counts of attempt to communicate to a foreign entity information that the government of Canada is taking measures to safeguard.

On Thursday, November 28, the RCMP was informed that Huang was taking steps to pass sensitive information to authorities from the People’s Republic of China. The information relates to certain elements of the government of Canada national shipbuilding procurement strategy which includes patrol ships, frigates, naval auxiliary vessels, science research vessels and ice breakers.

“In these types of cases, sharing of  information may give a foreign entity a tactical, military or competitive advantage by knowing the specifications of vessels responsible for defending Canadian waters and Canadian sovereignty,” stated RCMP chief superintendent Jennifer Strachan.

The RCMP say that from the moment they were made aware of the nature of the actions, they initiated an investigation called Project Seascape. “National security investigations are complex and this one was no different,” said RCMP chief superintendent Larry Tremblay. “It is important to understand that there is more to national security than focusing solely on terrorism. It’s about protecting Canadian interests and taking the steps we need to take to protect our sovereignty.”

The RCMP encourages the public to bring any suspicious activities to their attention through the national security information network at 1-800-420-5805, or by contacting local police.