A survey of Globe and Mail splashes China, accused of interference in the federal elections of 2021. Beijing’s espionage activities are hardly surprising. He is an actor of disruption in Western democracies, who does not hesitate to criticize liberalism. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s response is surprising given the seriousness of the situation.
Relying on Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) sources and documents, the World claims that China targets politicians, public office holders and senior business executives in its espionage activities, using the usual panoply of tactics to achieve its ends: extortion, bribes , seduction, computer attacks, misinformation.
Wishing for the election of a liberal minority government in 2021, China has reportedly deployed a sophisticated campaign to prevent the election of conservative candidates critical of its policies. Former leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (CCP) Erin O’Toole has already said that Chinese interference cost his party eight or nine seats in the election.
Prime Minister Trudeau says Canadians can trust the integrity of their electoral system. Independent experts also confirmed that the integrity of the 2019 and 2021 elections had not been compromised. The Prime Minister’s peace of mind is surprising, however, when we know that CSIS has been sending warning signals for years and when we know that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating the matter.
Canada’s former ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques deplored the Trudeau government’s negligence and laxity on the airwaves of RDI. Former CSIS director Richard Fadden insisted on the seriousness of the case. This is an attack on Canadian sovereignty that requires a stronger response. Perhaps the Prime Minister is careful not to inflame the already very high tensions between Canada and China. If so, this policy of diplomatic caution does not preclude immediate action, including further review of the situation by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and adoption of a public record of attempts by authoritarian regimes to intrude on the democratic process, as the CCP suggests.
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