Eby hits back at claim B.C. minister is under investigation for helping China

Vancouver mayoral candidate, incumbent Kennedy Stewart, responds to questions during a news conference in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Premier David Eby says neither the RCMP nor Canada’s spy agency have ever raised concerns about his cabinet or caucus, after Vancouver’s ex-mayor said a minister was being investigated for collaborating with China’s government.

Eby says he has “had multiple briefings with CSIS, with the RCMP” and none pointed to any concerns about any member of the government, and if there were, he would have removed that person from cabinet.

The premier was responding in question period after being asked about the comments by Kennedy Stewart on Monday that federal lawyers interviewed him about a B.C. cabinet minister who he says is under investigation.

Stewart, who was Vancouver’s mayor from 2018 to 2022, told CKNW’s Jas Johal show that Eby and other cabinet members were aware of the investigation.

The former mayor, who was also an MP for the federal NDP for seven years, didn’t name the minister he says is under investigation.

But he said he immediately alerted government officials when he confirmed their identity after his interview with federal lawyers.

He said he made sure the information got “to the top of the chain,” but nothing has happened since.

Stewart, who could not immediately be contacted for further comment, said Chinese interference in Canadian politics has become a “serious problem both at the civic level, and now at the provincial government level.”

He said he was taking a risk in talking about the investigation, because he signed a non-disclosure agreement, although he didn’t say with whom.

He said “the reason why you are not hearing about this kind of stuff, is because people are worried about getting sued.”

The RCMP said it was looking into a request for comment about Stewart’s accusations.

Government house leader Mike Farnworth said questions about whether a cabinet minister was being investigated for collaborating with China were “absolutely ridiculous.”

Farnworth said that, “if any members of cabinet or caucus was under investigation by the RCMP or CSIS, they would not be in cabinet and they would not be in caucus.”

This report by Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press, was first published May 5, 2026.