An investigation into a China-linked foreign interference and money laundering operation was abandoned due to concerns about its impact, highlighting broader issues of resource limitations within law enforcement, according to a senior RCMP official. Deputy Commissioner Flynn, who oversees federal policing, questioned the potential effect of a successful financial crime investigation on the larger problem. The summary stated that because multiple backup networks could be used for money laundering activities, it was believed that such an investigation would have no significant impact. As a result, Deputy Commissioner Flynn refused the request as it did not justify higher prioritization.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme also testified that 43 percent of the RCMP’s budget is allocated to providing contracted policing services for provinces, territories, and indigenous communities. Consequently, federal budget cuts primarily affect other areas including federal policing responsible for national security, organized crime investigations and foreign interference cases.
Commissioner Duheme further explained that limited resources can hinder the RCMP’s ability to investigate foreign interference-related activities since they often become aware of these activities through intelligence from domestic and international partners. However, when international partners share intelligence with caveats requiring sensitive information protection from disclosure by the RCMP, it limits their ability to take action in criminal investigations.
This has resulted in a shift in the RCMP’s approach where they now prioritize disrupting foreign interference activities rather than solely focusing on gathering evidence for prosecution. The summary states that Deputy Commissioner Flynn highlighted how criminal prosecutions are no longer considered as the “gold standard” of law enforcement by the RCMP. Instead, greater emphasis is placed on harm reduction and public safety with an aim to disrupt such activities and prevent their recurrence.
As an example of this new approach, Flynn cited the RCMP’s investigation into alleged secret Chinese police stations operating in Toronto,Vancouver,and Montreal which were accused of facilitating foreign interference by harassing diaspora communities. In contrast to historical practices where plain clothes surveillance units would be deployed covertly over years to collect information,Flynn explained how uniformed officers were sent directly to neighborhoods suspected of housing these overseas police stations.
