A parliamentary committee in the House of Commons has agreed to investigate the security screening procedures in Canada following the arrest of a Canadian NATO intern by Belgian authorities on espionage charges. The decision was made after the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois requested an emergency committee meeting to look into the spying allegations against the intern.
During the public safety and national security committee meeting on Monday, Members of Parliament from various parties agreed to hold 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 upon other relevant witnesses as needed. Subsequently, the committee will present its findings and recommendations to the House of Commons.
While the identity of the defendant in the Belgian criminal investigation remains undisclosed, a CBC News investigation revealed that the accused spy is Biwei Zhang, a systems engineer with an economics background who was interning at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium.
The investigation found that Biwei Zhang goes by the name Claire Zhang professionally and Catina Zhang on her Facebook profile. Belgian authorities suspect Zhang of espionage for a foreign country and involvement in a criminal syndicate.
The security clearance required for Zhang’s NATO internship involved a thorough background check, which Canadian authorities, specifically the RCMP and CSIS, would have conducted, given her Canadian nationality.
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 involved in the case since its inception.
An examination of Zhang’s past revealed that she had held positions in various Canadian government departments, including as an economist at Statistics Canada and a systems engineer at the Canadian Space Agency. Additionally, it was discovered that in 2023, Zhang was found to have committed fraud by applying for a position at the Canada Border Services Agency under different names and emails. A judicial review in 2024 dismissed her application regarding this incident.
Zhang’s work history also includes roles 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 arrest on charges of espionage and involvement in a criminal organization, Belgian authorities conducted searches at Zhang’s residence and workplace at SHAPE, as stated by the country’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office.