Conservative and Bloc Members of Parliament are urging the House of Commons public safety committee to hold an urgent meeting to investigate espionage accusations against a former Canadian intern detained by Belgian authorities over suspected espionage activities.

In response to the situation, Conservative MP Frank Caputo expressed deep concern, emphasizing the need to scrutinize Canada’s national security vetting processes. Caputo highlighted the importance of determining whether any security screening deficiencies may have jeopardized sensitive information or compromised the security of Canada and its allies.

The individual in question, Biwei Zhang, previously worked as an intern at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium. Although Belgian officials did not disclose her identity, a CBC News investigation identified Zhang as a systems engineer with an economics background.

Zhang’s professional history indicated past roles at the Canadian Space Agency and Statistics Canada. Reports from security sources in Europe, including Reuters, suggested that the intern’s behavior had aroused suspicions within NATO’s internal security services. Allegedly, Zhang displayed excessive curiosity about colleagues, accessed unauthorized areas, and viewed files beyond her designated responsibilities in SHAPE’s IT Department.

Currently detained by Belgian authorities, Zhang faces unproven allegations. The public safety committee, as per Caputo’s statement, aims to investigate how Zhang secured the NATO internship, the extent of security screening prior to her appointment, any red flags raised by Canadian or allied entities, and the adequacy of monitoring procedures.

Emphasizing the need for transparency, Caputo stressed the public safety minister’s commitment to examining Canada’s security screening practices to uncover the truth behind the incident. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree pledged to delve into Zhang’s potential connections with Canadian agencies to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The case has prompted scrutiny of Canada’s security protocols, with Anandasangaree emphasizing the importance of preventing such incidents moving forward. Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated that Canadian security officials were not caught off guard by the intern’s arrest.