The arrest of a Canadian woman at NATO headquarters in Belgium has raised questions about the security clearance process, particularly after it was revealed she had a history of committing fraud.
According to officials in Belgium, the accused is a 32-year-old Canadian national of Chinese origin who used the names Catina and Claire. Investigations have identified the woman as Biwei Zhang, a systems engineer with a resume full of government jobs.
Zhang was taken into custody by officials in Mons, Belgium, following searches at both her home and office at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in nearby Casteau. Authorities have yet to confirm what intelligence may have been compromised during her time at NATO.
Zhang's arrest raises concerns about how Canada hands out security clearances, especially since court documents revealed she was previously caught committing fraud on a Canada Border Services Agency job application using fake emails and aliases to pass tests.
Despite these red flags, Zhang still managed to secure an international security clearance. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has promised a full investigation into how Canada hands out its security clearances, stating that "we need to get to the bottom of this, and we need to ensure that these types of incidents do not occur in the future."
Global Affairs Canada, which handles clearances for Canadians on foreign secondments, declined to specify how Zhang passed background checks. The incident has sparked concerns about the thoroughness of Canada's security clearance process.
