MP Han Dong serves Global News with libel notice, demands retraction and apology
Don Valley North MP stepped away from the Liberal caucus last week and is currently sitting as an Independent
Darren Major · CBC News · Posted: Mar 31, 2023 5:45 PM EDT
A man in a jacket, shirt and tie stands in a hallway.
Liberal MP Han Dong speaks to reporters at Parliament on March 21, 2023. (Chris Rands/CBC)
Lawyers representing MP Han Dong have served Global News with a notice of libel over articles that allege the former Liberal MP was a “witting” participant in a Beijing-backed foreign interference network.
“Mr. Dong has suffered damage to his reputation and career as a result of Global News’ reporting targeting him with these vicious and untrue accusations,” says a press release from the legal firm Polley Faith LLP.
The notice of libel, which has been provided to CBC, cites two stories about Dong and a number of associated broadcast segments.
Last week, Global published a story alleging Dong advised a senior Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that Beijing should hold off on freeing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, the two Canadians being held by China at the time.
The story quotes two anonymous national security sources who alleged that Dong told China’s consul general Han Tao in Toronto that releasing the men would benefit the Conservatives.
In a February story, Global News cited anonymous sources who alleged national security officials gave an urgent briefing to senior aides from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office in 2019 “warning them that one of their candidates was part of a Chinese foreign interference network.”
The libel notice demands that Global issue a full retraction, remove the stories from its website and apologize to Dong.
“Global News has failed to follow principles of responsible journalism and has maliciously made false claims about Mr. Dong,” the press release said.
The notice names a number of Global reporters, including the author of the two stories in question.
Dong said earlier this week that he planned to take legal action against Global. At the time, Sonia Verma, editor-in-chief of Global News, said in a media statement that “Global News is governed by a rigorous set of journalistic principles and practices. We are very mindful of the public interest and legal responsibility of this important accountability reporting.”
CBC reached out to Global on Friday but a spokesperson said, “We are unable to provide comment as we are now in receipt of a libel notice and refer you back to a statement issued earlier this week.”
The libel notice doesn’t mean a lawsuit has been filed, but Dong is demanding the retraction be made within seven days.
MP Han Dong issues libel notice to Global News over China interference reporting
Joey Chini
CTVNews.ca Writer-Producer
Updated March 31, 2023 10:36 p.m. EDT
Published March 31, 2023 6:31 p.m. EDT
Lawyers representing Toronto MP Han Dong served Global News and several of its journalists with a libel notice over reporting alleging he spoke to a Chinese diplomat in February 2021 about delaying the release of the two Michaels who were detained in China at the time, and that he was a ‘witting affiliate’ of Chinese interference networks.
Dong tweeted a press release from his legal team announcing that the libel notice had been served Friday evening.
“We demanded that Global News issue a full apology and retraction of the false, malicious, irresponsible, and defamatory statements that Global News has published and broadcast about Mr. Dong,” the release from Polley Faith LLP reads.
Representatives from Global News told CTVNews.ca the network is “unable to provide comment” but referred back to a statement issued earlier this week saying: “Global News is governed by a rigorous set of Journalistic Principles and Practices. We are very mindful of the public interest and legal responsibility of this important accountability reporting.”
The libel notice comes after Global News published a story on March 23 alleging Han Dong told the Chinese consul general to Toronto that keeping Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in prison would be politically damaging to the opposition Conservatives—an allegation Dong vehemently denies.
Last month, Global News also reported Dong was preferred by Beijing over another Chinese Canadian Liberal, and that he was a “witting affiliate” of Chinese interference networks.
The network attributed the information to unnamed national security officials. CTV News has not verified the allegations.
Under Ontario’s defamation law, the first step in a claim requires Dong to send the notice to the media outlet before filing a lawsuit seeking damages.
“Mr. Dong intends to bring a libel action against Global News and the people responsible for these publications to address these wrongs and clear his name,” Polley Faith LLP says.
In the notice of libel, Dong’s lawyers say he objects to “defamatory articles and broadcasts concerning him, published by Global News and Corus Entertainment.”
The court document demands the articles and broadcasts be taken down from Global News’ website within seven days, as well as demands a full apology and retraction of the story.
Since the report was released, Dong has stepped down from the Liberal caucus and now sits as an Independent MP.
Dong recently voted with the opposition and against the Liberals on a motion calling for a full public inquiry into alleged foreign interference in Canadian elections. In his statement, he said he did this to show that he had “nothing to hide.”
With files from CTV National News Senior Political Correspondent Glen McGregor
https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/mp-han-dong-issues-libel-notice-to-global-news-over-china-interference-reporting-1.6338113
Han Dong serves Global News with libel notice over foreign interference report
By Staff The Canadian Press
Posted March 31, 2023 6:53 pm
Independent MP Han Dong represents the Don Valley North federal electoral district in Toronto, and was previously a member of the Ontario legislature. He was born in China and moved to Canada as a teenager, maintaining he is a proud Canadian with no ties to the Chinese government. Jeff Semple has more details on his political background and voting record – Mar 23, 2023
A lawyer for Han Dong has served Global News and its parent company Corus Entertainment with a libel notice after the media outlet published an allegation the Toronto MP spoke to a Chinese diplomat about delaying the release of two Canadians.
Lawyer Mark Polley says he is demanding that Global News make a “full apology and retraction” for publishing what he describes as “false, malicious, irresponsible and defamatory statements” about Dong, now an Independent MP for Don Valley North.
Global published a story last week, citing unidentified security sources who alleged Dong told a Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that releasing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were detained in China, would benefit the federal Conservatives.
The media outlet has also published allegations that Dong benefited from Chinese foreign interference in his successful bid to become the Liberal candidate for his riding in 2019.
The Canadian Press has not independently verified the allegations against Dong, who has not yet filed a statement of claim in court.
A spokeswoman for Global News and Corus Entertainment says she is unable to provide comment because the companies have received a libel notice, but added that Global News is governed by a rigorous set of journalistic principles and practices.
“We are very mindful of the public interest and legal responsibility of this important accountability reporting,” Rishma Govani said in a statement.
The Canadian Press has not independently verified the allegations against Dong.
The written statement from Polley says Dong wants to clear his name.
“Mr. Dong respects and supports the critical role that responsible journalism plays in a free and democratic society. Indeed, Mr. Dong’s family came to Canada seeking those very values,” it says. “He voted in the House of Commons for a public inquiry into foreign election interference because he believes the truth should come out.”
Han Dong serves Global News with libel notice over foreign interference report
