By Barry Ellsworth
TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Two Chinese community centers in Montreal said Friday they are launching a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) after the national police force said they hosted “alleged Chinese police stations.”
The centers said the RCMP defamed them with “vague accusations,” causing them to have funding cuts and employees to lose jobs. They are seeking CAN$2.5 million ($1.85 million) in compensation, representatives of the centers said at a news conference.
As well, they said the bank holding the mortgage on one of the centers -- the Chinese Family Service of Greater Montreal -- will not renew the mortgage in March 2024.
The police centers -- they are alleged to be several in Canadian cities and also operate in other countries -- are said to intimidate Chinese Canadians who are wanted by Beijing to return to China, sometimes coercing them with threats against family in China.
“This 'witch hunt' of an investigation is having real-life consequences on the Chinese-Canadian community in Montreal,” the centers said in a statement released by the Coalition to Save Chinese Quebec Institutions ahead of the news conference, as reported by CTV News.
While no lawsuit was filed as of Friday, the lawyer for the centers said the RCMP has been sent notice that they intend to take legal action.