A recent report from Judge Marie-Josée Hogue’s Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions has identified foreign actors, particularly the People’s Republic of China, as posing an "existential threat" to Canadian democracy. This threat is particularly pronounced in Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), Canada’s smallest province, where concerns about Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-directed organizations have raised alarms about transparency and accountability.

On October 8, a gathering in Ottawa brought together journalists, researchers, concerned citizens, intelligence experts, and former officials, including Wayne Easter, to discuss these issues. The participants highlighted the national security risks posed by Beijing, focusing on evidence suggesting that P.E.I. is a hub for money laundering, illegal land acquisitions, and what they termed "elite capture" linked to the Chinese government. Easter, along with former intelligence officer Michel Juneau-Katsuya and former RCMP investigator Garry Clement, cautioned that P.E.I. could serve as a "forward operating base" for the CCP.

The consensus among attendees was that a national inquiry is necessary to fully understand the extent of Beijing’s influence on the island. The situation in eastern P.E.I. centers around five large buildings and controlled-access compounds that house members of a group called Bliss and Wisdom, which includes Buddhist monks and nuns. According to Canada Revenue Agency filings, the two main monasteries associated with this group have amassed nearly $500 million in assets since the arrival of the first monks in 2008. The group is led by Zhen-Ru, an unordained layperson with reported ties to Beijing, although the Dalai Lama does not recognize her as a legitimate leader.

Despite calls for action from local residents, including historian David Weale, the provincial government and media have largely avoided addressing the issues surrounding Bliss and Wisdom. However, in February, following pressure from citizens’ groups, the P.E.I. government announced an investigation into the land purchases made by the Buddhist group. The government also instructed the regulatory commission overseeing land transactions to disclose the findings of an investigation that was reportedly completed in 2018.

On October 8, a significant revelation emerged when the regulatory commission, responding to a subpoena from the P.E.I. legislature, admitted that no report had been produced from the 2018 investigation into the land purchases, contradicting earlier claims that such a report existed. In light of this information, P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz requested the RCMP to conduct a comprehensive investigation into allegations of foreign interference and money laundering in the province, asserting that Islanders "deserve answers."

Shortly after, the RCMP disclosed that it had previously investigated claims of money laundering and foreign interference in P.E.I. but concluded that all investigations were "unfounded." The RCMP stated that it would review its past findings due to new information, leaving many Islanders puzzled. Questions arose regarding the lack of public announcements about these investigations and why key witnesses and experts on Bliss and Wisdom had not been interviewed during the process. The unfolding situation continues to raise concerns about the implications of foreign influence in P.E.I. and the need for greater scrutiny of these issues.