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Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. I'm your host, Nick Taylor-Vaisey, with Maura Forrest. Today, we follow the latest threads on Chinese foreign interference. Plus, government phones say goodbye to TikTok. Also, PIERRE POILIEVRE faces a familiar problem inside his caucus.

WORDS MATTER — Maybe "rescind" was the wrong word.

Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU categorically denied one of the explosive lines in Global reporter SAM COOPER's latest reporting on Chinese interference in Canadian elections.

At the heart of Cooper's scoop is the 2019 candidacy of Liberal MP HAN DONG.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service was so concerned about the Chinese consulate's preference for Dong, Cooper wrote, that the service "urged Trudeau’s team to rescind Dong’s candidacy." The party did not.

POLITICO hasn't verified Cooper's reporting.

— Denials: In a Monday statement, Dong "strongly" rejected the story's claims. "My nomination and campaign teams have found no indications of any irregularities or compliance issues regarding my candidacy or election," he added.

Speaking to reporters, Trudeau stopped short of denying a meeting about Dong ever happened between CSIS and his staff, but he did take issue with Cooper's "rescind" line.

"We always engage with [security officials] and listen, but let me also be very clear to a really important point I think some folks are choosing to overlook," he said. "In a free democracy, it is not up to unelected security officials to dictate to political parties who can or cannot run."

Liberals are "extraordinarily lucky and happy" to have Dong in caucus, Trudeau added.

— No inquiry, yet: The PM resisted calls for a public inquiry that could sort out the bigger picture of Chinese interference outside the hyperpartisan confines of Parliament.

Trudeau first swatted away a public inquiry during a Friday news conference. Which makes us want to start a counter on this, just in case the pro-inquiry forces don't fade away.

Days since Trudeau first said 'no' to a public inquiry: 4

— The next step: Trudeau doubled down on a House committee as the appropriate venue. The procedure and House affairs committee meets Wednesday at 3 p.m. — smack dab in the middle of a break week — when MPs will hear from a pile of officials who work on this file.

National security adviser JODY THOMAS headlines the witness list, which also includes Public Safety DM SHAWN TUPPER and Global Affairs ADM CINDY TERMORSHUIZEN.

— Also on the docket: Members of the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force, which monitors and detects interference in federal votes.

The list includes four public servants, precisely none of whom hope their testimony makes headlines and turns them into a household name:

ADRIANA POLOZ, the RCMP's executive director of intelligence and international policing; GREG O'HAYON, the RCMP's acting director general of strategic intelligence, federal policing intelligence and international policing; TARA DENHAM, director general in Global Affairs Canada's office of human rights, freedoms and inclusion; and ADAM FISHER, CSIS director general of intelligence assessments.

— Further (spicy) reading: China’s election interference could devour Trudeau and his party, writes the National Post's JOHN IVISON.

IN DEFENSE OF TIKTOK— As of today, TikTok is banned on all government-issued mobile devices, due to privacy and security concerns.

It's causing a stir on the Hill. On Monday evening, a spokesperson confirmed that Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE and his entire caucus would suspend their accounts. That includes Tory deputy leader MELISSA LANTSMAN, who’d cultivated 160,000 followers on the platform.

But so far at least, the NDP is taking a different approach. Leader JAGMEET SINGH, who has nearly 900,000 TikTok followers, is taking a pause from the platform while his team evaluates the privacy risks, according to a source. He posted his most recent video last week, about protecting public health care.

One New Democrat MP tells Playbook he’s “definitely” going to keep the social media app on his personal device.

NDP MP MATTHEW GREEN posts a mix of personal content and clips of his speeches in Parliament to his nearly 8,000 followers on TikTok. He tells Playbook the focus on the Chinese-owned platform above all others smacks of a “red scare.”

“The only distinction that’s being made is a political one based on its connection with the Chinese government,” he said. “Other platforms [like Facebook and Twitter] are equally hostile, and they’re equally being used by hostile foreign actors.”

— Following suit: The federal government’s decision follows similar moves by the U.S. and the European Commission, prompted in part by concerns the Chinese government could force parent company ByteDance to share user data.

— ‘Naïve or malicious’: But Green said anyone trying to make a distinction between TikTok and other social media platforms based on privacy concerns “is either naïve or they’re being a little bit malicious.” He said he has concerns about how all platforms use personal data, but he’s making a “bit of a political calculus” in continuing to use TikTok.

“I live a fairly transparent life anyways,” he said. “I’m not privy to state secrets in any way in opposition, so I don’t see it as being a threat if it’s on a personal device that I happen to have.”

— Where the people are: Green said TikTok allows him to communicate directly with people he would otherwise never reach, including “Freedom Convoy” supporters who followed along as he co-chaired the parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing the government’s use of the Emergencies Act to dispel protests last year.

Green said he has found fewer “bots and fake actors” on TikTok compared to platforms like Twitter. “There’s people there and I feel an obligation to meet people where they’re at.”

— Counterpoint: In Washington, House Foreign Affairs Committee chair MICHAEL MCCAUL offered his view of TikTok's user risks in conversation with POLITICO's GAVIN BADE:

"I can tell you that in my briefings, both classified and non-, is that the app is a backdoor into your phone that can get access to all of your data, your communications, your data searches, your keystrokes, your hardware."

Know someone who could use Ottawa Playbook? Direct them to this link.Five days a week, zero dollars.

— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in the National Capital Region for private meetings — an uncharacteristically light public itinerary for a break week when the PM is typically on the road selling various pieces of his government's agenda.

10:30 a.m. Seniors Minister KAMAL KHERA will be in Toronto to announce funding for seniors’ mental health.

11 a.m. The House heritage committee meets to discuss the "censoring" of news content by Google (those are the words of Liberal, NDP and Bloc MPs who requested the meeting).

11 a.m. Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT and Treasury Board President MONA FORTIER will make an announcement about green procurement and net-zero initiatives at the GLOBExCHANGE 2023 conference in Toronto.

11:30 a.m. Natural Resources Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON will make an announcement at the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.

1 p.m. Guilbeault will deliver the keynote speech at GLOBExCHANGE and will then have a conversation with the Business Development Bank of Canada’s SANDRA ODENDAHL.

1:45 p.m. Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister MARC MILLER will make an announcement in Ottawa regarding the launch of Canada’s collaborative modern treaty implementation policy.

2 p.m. Mental Health and Addictions Minister CAROLYN BENNETT and National Revenue Minister DIANE LEBOUTHILLIER will announce funding for national mental health and substance use services for children and youth in Quebec.

5:30 p.m. Centre Ice Canadians (no longer just a group of Conservatives, thank you very much) hosts a pre-budget night at Toronto’s Albany Club, which bills itself as “the premier private club for leaders in Canada’s business and Conservative political spheres.”

— The event features Globe and Mail columnist ANDREW COYNE, Mississauga Mayor and former Liberal MP BONNIE CROMBIE, former Conservative MP LISA RAITT and former Liberal budget architect TYLER MEREDITH.

TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW — We welcome your tips and intel. What are you hearing that you need Playbook readers to know? Send details.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT — Not that PIERRE POILIEVRE is in the business of asking ERIN O'TOOLE for advice, but the current Tory leader might find himself commiserating with his predecessor on the topic of caucus management — subtopic: the conspiracy crowd.

When O'Toole sat down with Playbook a year after his ouster, he reflected on the unavoidable turbulence in guiding a raucous caucus through a pandemic. He won the leadership in the summer of 2020, but only held his first in-person caucus meeting more than a year later after the 2021 election.

O'Toole witnessed the pandemic's effects on his flock. "I saw some people suffering greatly in their personal lives," he said. And then there was "a section that went right down the rabbit hole of Covid — ivermectin, the whole nine yards."

The former leader failed to get through to those folks.

"I didn't get into politics to divide people or to say, 'You haven't researched this, you're following conspiracy theories,' or to denigrate my colleagues. I'd always try and inspire and convince. But in some cases, that was not possible."

— Naming names: O'Toole didn't call anyone out in particular. But there's a good bet that three Conservative MPs — LESLYN LEWIS, DEAN ALLISON and COLIN CARRIE — who mugged for the cameras with CHRISTINE ANDERSON last week were on the naughty list.

Now they're Poilievre's, er, shall we say, challenge.

Anderson is a member of the European Parliament who sits with the far-right Alternative for Germany party. When news of the confab came to light, the Tory leader put out a statement condemning Anderson's views. It was categorical, though his team didn't post it anywhere.

— For the record: The trio released their own statement in which they claimed they "were not aware of the views or associations of her and her political party. We do not share or endorse her views and strongly condemn any views that are racist or hateful."

The contact info at the bottom of that statement led to Poilievre's office. Carrie separately fell on his sword, but neither Lewis nor Allison shared the statement on their social media channels. Which isn't proof that their contrition was insincere, of course.

— Poilievre's approach: Kid gloves, so far. Lewis remains a member of Poilievre's shadow Cabinet as DOMINIC LEBLANC's opposite at infrastructure and communities. Lewis and Poilievre marked the end of Black History Month together on Sunday in Ottawa.

In a since-deleted weekend tweet, Sarnia–Lambton MP MARILYN GLADU accused PM Trudeau of meeting with "Ukrainian alt right Nazis." Gladu is Poilievre's critic for civil liberties.

Poilievre is also an ardent supporter of the Ukrainian side in its war with Russia.

When O'Toole was leader, he had his own experience with Gladu's offhand remarks. He also knows the way to Stornoway, in case Poilievre wants a sympathetic ear.

RALLY TIME — Poilievre has added a Hamilton-adjacent date to his break-week mini-tour. He'll hold a Saturday afternoon meet and greet at the Grand Olympia in Stoney Creek.

— From our colleagues in Europe: How Boris Johnson’s departure paved the way for a grand Brexit bargain.

— Supreme Court Justice RUSSELL BROWN is on a leave of absence, the CBC confirms.

— The Post serves up a friendly profile of TAMARA LICH, who plans to launch a cross-Canada speaking tour: "I’m not finished. It’s just going to get fun now."

— Reuters placed trackers in old shoes donated to a recycling program run by petrochemical giant Dow. They ended up at an Indonesian market. (h/t FATIMA SYED)

— In the Hill Times, JENN JEFFERYS reflects on intractable divisions fueled by convoy content. One takeaway: "Too much of our federal bureaucracy has drifted away from the people it serves."

— “Poilievre may be right,” RICHARD STURSBERG, former executive vice president of CBC/Radio Canada, writes on the Hub. “Perhaps it’s time to eliminate English TV. What is the point in maintaining all of its infrastructure, personnel, and unwatched shows if nobody cares?”

— THE BIG STORYpod features Wired writer PETER GUEST talking this feature: Conspiracy theorists are coming for the 15-minute city.

Our latest policy newsletter by SUE ALLAN for POLITICO Pro subscribers: Ottawa turns on TikTok.

In news for POLITICO Pro subscribers:
— U.S. cyber official warns that China would likely pair Taiwan invasion with attack on U.S. networks.
— White House scales back plans to regulate U.S. investments in China.
— Kerry to stay on as Biden's top climate diplomat.
— Canada still pushing to kill UK hormone beef ban as Pacific trade pact nears.
— Q&A: Thérèse Coffey, U.K. secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs.

Birthdays: HBD to Liberal MP FRANCESCO SORBARA … Sen. LARRY CAMPBELL is 75 today. Campbell's colleague, Sen. DAVID WELLS, also celebrates. … Alberta NDP MLA ROD LOYOLA is 49.

HADRIEN TRUDEAU is 9! Also celebrating today: National Post comment editor CARSON JEREMA.

HBD + 1 to MP LIANNE ROOD.

Movers and shakers:COLE HOGAN is Earnscliffe Strategies' newest principal, handling digital. Hogan comes to the firm from Proof Strategies, where he was director of digital advocacy and campaigns. He plans to relocate to Ottawa from Saskatchewan.

— The Metro grocery chain that also owns Jean Coutu signed up a lobbyist: NICOLAS DESCROIX from Mongeau Pellerin.

Their top priority would make pharma lobbyists smile: "raise awareness of the importance of protecting the drug supply chain and pharmacy services to the population, in particular by limiting pressure on the list prices of patented and generic drugs and by ensuring increased predictability of the regulatory environment."

— NICK BONTIS is out as president of Canada Soccer. Bontis was at the heart of a pay equity dispute with the women's national team.

"While I have been one of the biggest proponents of equalizing the competitive performance environment for our Women’s National Team, I will unfortunately not be leading this organization when it happens. I acknowledge that this moment requires change," he said.

Media mentions: DUNCAN MCCUE is joining Carleton’s journalism school as an associate professor, specializing in Indigenous Journalism and (Story)telling.

Spotted: Former chiefs of staff IAN BRODIE, TIM MURPHY and BRIAN TOPP drop budget-building advice on the latest Herle Burly pod … Ottawa Centre MP YASIR NAQVI spent part of the weekend pre-campaigning for the provincial leadership in Markham, Pickering and Ajax.

The House returns in one week, on March 6. The Senate sits again March 7.

→ Find the latest on House committee meetings here.

→ Keep track of Senate committee meetings here.

Monday’s answer: “Despite its demolition, its story lives on,” Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU said last week of Africville, a historically Black community that existed for more than 150 years until it was demolished by the city of Halifax in the 1960s.

Props to PATRICK DION, NARESH RAGHUBEER, ROB LEFORTE, BRANDON RABIDEAU, GREG MACEACHERN, NANCI WAUGH, GORDON RANDALL, LAURA JARVIS, JOHN ECKER, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, SARAH ANSON-CARTWRIGHT, ZOIE SUTHERLAND, DAN MCCARTHY, JASON DEVEAU, JOSEPH CHAMOUN, GWENDOLYN MONCRIEFF-GOULD, MARC LEBLANC and AMY CASTLE.

Today’s question: In recognition of Black History Month, Liberal MP JENICA ATWIN read the following in the House of Commons: “So wrap yourself tightly around / The darkness you want to change / And when you activate who you are / You’ll find your sunlight.” Who wrote those words?

Send your answers to [email protected].

Want to grab the attention of movers and shakers on Parliament Hill? Want your brand in front of a key audience of Ottawa influencers? Playbook can help. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: [email protected].

Playbook wouldn’t happen without: Luiza Ch. Savage, Sue Allan and David Cohen.