Startling revelations from a 2025 federal inquiry have identified foreign interference as an existential threat to Canadian democracy, with Prince Edward Island emerging as a particularly concerning hotspot. According to experts, Canada's smallest province has become a focal point for activities linked to the Chinese Communist Party that demand immediate transparency and accountability.
Ottawa Meeting Sounds Alarm
On October 8, a significant gathering in Ottawa brought together journalists, researchers, intelligence experts, and former solicitor general Wayne Easter to address growing national security concerns. Participants from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute joined former CSIS officer Michel Juneau-Katsuya and former RCMP investigator Garry Clement in warning that P.E.I. could be serving as a forward operating base for the CCP.
The consensus among meeting attendees was clear: only a comprehensive national inquiry could fully reveal the extent of Beijing's influence operations on the island. Their concerns centered on substantial evidence pointing to money laundering, illegal land acquisitions, and elite capture traced back to China's communist government.
The Bliss and Wisdom Expansion
The story begins in eastern P.E.I. where the Bliss and Wisdom Buddhist Institute has established a significant presence. What started with the arrival of a few monks around 2008 has grown into hundreds of monks and nuns residing across five sprawling buildings and controlled-access compounds.
Canada Revenue Agency documents reveal the two primary monasteries have accumulated assets approaching $500 million. The group operates under the spiritual guidance of Zhen-Ru, an unordained layperson reportedly connected to Beijing. Despite following Tibetan Buddhist traditions, Radio-Canada reports that the Dalai Lama does not recognize Zhen-Ru's leadership.
Government Response and Missing Report
For years, provincial authorities, media outlets, and other stakeholders showed little interest in investigating the Bliss and Wisdom organization, despite persistent concerns raised by local citizens including blogger and historian David Weale. This changed in February when, following substantial pressure from citizen groups, the P.E.I. government announced it would launch an investigation into the Buddhists' land purchases.
The government additionally instructed the regulatory commission overseeing land transactions to release findings from an investigation supposedly completed in 2018. However, in a dramatic October 8 development, the commission admitted under subpoena from a provincial legislative committee that no report was ever produced from the 2018 investigation, despite previous assurances that such documentation existed.
The situation on Prince Edward Island represents a microcosm of broader national security challenges facing Canada. As federal authorities continue to grapple with foreign interference threats, the P.E.I. case demonstrates how even Canada's smallest provinces have become arenas for international power struggles that demand vigilant oversight and transparent investigation.
