QUESTION PERIOD — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Canada-Russia Relations
December 15, 2022
My question is for Senator Gold. I’m not asking my usual question about written questions not being answered. I have something new to end this session, Senator Gold.
In addition to the Government of China trying to undermine Canadian democracy by having, apparently, alleged police stations on our soil and interference in elections, we also have the Russians. In the 1980s, the then Soviet Union slipped two spies into Canada, stealing the identities of two deceased Canadian children in the process, with this country serving as a way station as they moved towards their goal, which was the United States — undercover sleeper agents waiting to be activated to serve their mother Russia.
The fake Canadians, Donald Heathfield and Tracey Foley, were actually Andrei Bezrukov and Elena Vavilova. When these spies were living in Canada for many years to establish their cover stories — by attending university and having an employment history — the couple had two children.
In 2010, after they moved to the United States, they were among 10 Russian agents caught by the FBI, and they were expelled back to Russia, where they were showered with honours by President Putin and given important positions in their intelligence service.
Why is the Government of Canada continuing to allow these two children, who are now adults, to travel the world as Canadian citizens with Canadian passports, given their citizenship is built on a foundation of lies due to the deceit of their parents? Can their citizenship be revoked?
Thank you for raising the issue, and for your question. I will have to make inquiries with the government with regard to this. Normally, as you would know, even if I had the answer, I am not sure that it would be appropriate to deal with matters regarding individual cases. I do not know the situation, and I will have to make inquiries.
I appreciate that, Senator Gold. I look forward to hearing your answer.
You should also be aware that when the American FBI was investigating their parents, they overheard a conversation in the family home — by bugging the home — that the spy children were actually prepared to serve Russia as well.
As I said, these children, with their Canadian passports, are now adults. They can travel anywhere in the world, except the U.S. which will deny them entry. Indeed, they can move to Canada with full protection and rights — free from any restrictions — to operate on behalf of Russia.
Even if they do not want to spy for Russia, would Putin give them any choice, or would they fall out of a window? They might have no choice, but Canada has one: The choice is to adopt what the United Kingdom has done, and recognize the new reality that we are in — that Canada has enemies, like China and Russia, that are trying to undermine our democracy. The United Kingdom passed legislation that if citizenship was obtained by fraud, it can be revoked. Canada should get with the times, and adopt a similar initiative in this case.
Well, thank you. Canada is clear-eyed about the threats that certain countries, including Russia, pose to our democracy.
It is not evident from your question, and I certainly do not have the facts, whether the children to whom you refer obtained their citizenship by fraud. As I said, I do not want to presume that which I do not know. I will make the inquiries, and to the extent that I am able to report back, I shall.
