The federal Conservatives are accusing the Prime Minister’s Office of inappropriately attempting to silence its critics after a former ambassador to China said he was asked by a government department to check with them first before making any comments on Canada’s China policy.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said in a statement today that he was “disturbed” to hear the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had ordered non-partisan public servants to do Justin Trudeau’s “political damage control.”

“This exchange is highly inappropriate and represents a blatant attempt by Justin Trudeau to muzzle a respected former career diplomat,” a statement attributed to him reads.

On Wednesday, the Globe and Mail reported that David Mulroney, a former Canadian ambassador to China, told the paper that he was instructed by an official from Global Affairs Canada to clear with them first any public comments on Canada’s policy toward China, citing the “election environment.” The official reportedly said they were passing along a request from the PMO.

But Adam Austen, a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, told iPolitics via email that neither the minister’s office or the PMO “would ever attempt to prevent any former Canadian diplomat from speaking freely and publicly.”

Global Affairs Canada said in a separate statement to iPolitics that it had no intention of telling Mulroney he needed to first clear with them any public statements, and nobody, including from the PMO, told department staff to pass along that message.

Department spokesperson Guillaume Bérubé said officials regularly reach out to former diplomats and others to keep them abreast of “current circumstances” in hopes of ensuring “informed public discussion of important foreign policy issues,” which he claimed was the reason for the call to Mulroney.

“We welcome the views and advice of informed Canadians such as Mr. Mulroney on these complex issues and regret that this message was not clearly communicated,” he explained.

Mulroney’s claim comes at a sensitive time in Canada-China relations, with tensions between the two countries running high since the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver last December, at the behest of the U.S.

Since then, China has detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, accusing the two of spying. It has also blocked key Canadian agriculture imports, namely canola and pork.

BACKGROUNDER: Freeland says McCallum ‘does not speak’ for her government after controversial interview

And then earlier this month, former Liberal cabinet minister John McCallum, another ex-ambassador to China, said in an interview with the South China Morning Post that he had warned former contacts at China’s foreign ministry any further “punishments” against Canada could lead to the Conservatives winning the election in the fall, a change not favourable to Beijing.

Minister Freeland sought to swiftly distance the Liberals from the controversial comments, saying the next day that McCallum “does not speak” for the government.

But Scheer said Mulroney’s claim raises new questions about whether McCallum and others have taken orders from department officials, directed by the PMO.

“Justin Trudeau must answer for the many times he has exploited Canada’s non-partisan, public service for his own political purpose,” he argued.

Austen said the government routinely engages with experts, business leaders, academics and non-governmental organizations to “solicit their input and views” on Kovring and Spavor’s detention, and more generally, Canada-China relations.

“Our government’s priority is the safety and well-being of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor,” he added.