In the face of inquiries regarding how scientists intentionally sharing information with China were granted clearance to work at a Winnipeg laboratory specializing in deadly diseases, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shifted criticism toward his chief political rival.

He accused the Conservative leader of exploiting national security concerns.

During a Thursday news conference in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Trudeau responded to questions about scientists involved in high-security virus research at the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg collaborating with the People’s Republic of China.

After a prolonged struggle for access, the federal government released hundreds of pages of documents detailing the dismissal of Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and her husband Keding Cheng.

The couple was escorted out of the facility in July 2019 and had their security clearances revoked, with the official announcement of their dismissals made in January 2021, CBC reported.

The documents reveal that Canada’s intelligence agency conducted multiple security screenings and concluded that Qiu had “intentionally” shared scientific information with China, posing a potential threat to public health.

The RCMP has confirmed that it continues to investigate the issue. Trudeau has additionally indicated that he has tasked his national security adviser with examining the events at the lab and providing recommendations.

Written by B.C. Begley