MONTREAL — A former researcher at Quebec’s electric utility research institute charged with economic espionage for the benefit of China was never confronted by senior managers at Hydro-Québec about concerns when publications came to light in 2022 triggering an internal probe.

“It wasn’t an obligation,” said Patrick Cyr, a manager who oversaw Yuesheng Wang at the time.

Wang, 38, has pleaded not guilty to economic espionage under Canada’s Security of Information Act — the first time someone has been charged with that crime. He also faces four other charges filed in 2022 and 2024 under the Criminal Code: fraudulently using a computer and breach of trust at the time of his November 2022 arrest, and charges laid in 2024 of committing preparatory acts on behalf of a foreign entity and informin

See Full Page