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The Niagara Independent, October 27, 2023 \u2013<\/em> <\/i><\/p>\n “<\/i>China\u2019s goal is not to replicate the crude imperialism of the European, or even the American, type, but to create vassal states \u2014 subordinate countries that rule themselves but are expected to kowtow on command.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n \u2013<\/i> Joel Kotkin, presidential fellow at California\u2019s Chapman University and author of The Coming of Neo Feudalism \u2014 A Warning to the Global Middle Class\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n It\u2019s been almost two months since PM Justin Trudeau appointed Quebec Court of Appeal Justice Marie-Jos\u00e9e Hogue to lead the public inquiry into foreign influence in Canada and the country\u2019s federal elections. In early September a timetable was published stating that in mid-February the judge would issue an interim report and she would complete her work by the end of 2024.<\/p>\n Seven weeks into the inquiry\u2019s tight timeframe there has been no news on public hearings or the judge\u2019s work. Just as she successfully defended the PM when he departed from West Point Grey Academy so many years ago, Judge Hogue is doing her job in removing from Canadian news the mounting scandals linking the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with the Liberal Party. The PM and cabinet ministers need not address CCP influence when there is \u201can independent public inquiry\u201d underway \u2013 and when the inquiry has no news\u2026 well, then there is no news.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Yet, on multiple fronts again this week, parliamentary committee testimony and tabled reports signal to Canadians who are watching such proceedings that the CCP\u2019s undue influence in Canada remains the elephant in the room.<\/p>\n The CCP\u2019s undue influence in our country entangles more than the narrow focus of the Hogue inquiry into foreign influence in elections. There are much greater questions about \u201cCanada, the vassal state,\u201d and the ties that bind the CCP and Liberals have been enumerated in this space in a number of columns: here<\/a>, here<\/a>, here<\/a>, and here<\/a>. At least ten critical issues have been identified:<\/p>\n Every week new facts surface and new questions are raised about CCP influence in Canada, such as Beijing\u2019s theft of technology research from Canadian universities, or Chinese interests buying up real estate. Just this week, here is what we have learned from revelations on Parliament Hill.<\/p>\n The director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service David Vigneault gave a 60 Minutes<\/i> American news interview that aired on the weekend in which he said \u201cWe [Canada] have seen and blocked attempts by the [People\u2019s Republic of China, or CCP) to acquire locations near sensitive, strategic assets of the country where we knew the ultimate purpose was for spying operations.\u201d Some Canadian legacy news agencies reported the CSIS director\u2019s comments early in the week; it did not appear in state-sponsored CBC news.<\/p>\n The CCP launched a \u201cspamouflage\u201d disinformation campaign in Canadian social media in late summer and over the Labour Day weekend. The Global Affairs department reported on Monday that the PM, the Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and at least 47 MPs had their social media platforms hacked to post propaganda messages. The department stated the campaign\u2019s objective was to \u201cdiscourage and make it difficult for MPs to carry out their duties and may dissuade MPs and diaspora communities in Canada from speaking out.\u201d It is the same tactic that has been employed against Conservative MP Michael Chong and former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu, who was defeated in the 2021 election.<\/p>\n On Tuesday the Commons ethics committee produced an all-party report that urged Parliament to enact legislation as soon as possible to establish a foreign influence registry. For 18 months a Senate bill has been sidelined in the Upper Chambre and the government has only offered promises to introduce legislation, without acting. The MPs on the ethics committee stated:\u00a0 \u201cThe creation of a foreign influence registry has been proposed many times in recent years but no bill has been passed. Several allied countries have established foreign influence registries.\u201d<\/p>\n Also on Tuesday, Defence Minister Bill Blair (and also the former Public Safety Minister) appeared before the Procedure and House Affairs committee (PROC), which is currently studying the CCP threats and tactics used to pressure MP Michael Chong. Blair stated he was not to be held responsible for failing to warn the MP \u2013 the responsibility lies solely with CSIS. This echoes other PROC testimony from top political and government officials. Mike MacDonald, former national security advisor to the PM said he did not see anything. Jody Thomas, current national security advisor to the PM said she did not see anything. Former deputy minister of public safety Rob Stewart testified it was \u201cnot my job\u201d to warn MP Chong. Remarkably, the testimony reads like the script from Hogan\u2019s Heroes<\/i>: \u201cI zee nut-ting. I know nut-ting.\u201d<\/p>\n The Toronto Star<\/i> featured an investigative piece that underlined the efforts of top government officials, PM Trudeau, and the Prime Minister\u2019s Office to hide the extent of foreign interference activities in Canada \u2014 and bury the warnings of CSIS. The Toronto Star<\/i> quoted a September 2022 CSIS document: \u201cState actors are able to conduct (foreign interference) successfully in Canada because there are no consequences, either legal or political\u2026 (Foreign interference) is therefore a low-risk and high-reward endeavor.\u201d A CSIS national security assessment from October 2022 warned the PMO: \u201cnetworks are active throughout Canada, and at all levels of government. Many elements of these networks are deeply embedded in Canada\u2019s political and social fabric.\u201d<\/p>\n On Wednesday, a Chinese Canada group, the Falun Dafa Association (FDA), published a report that named media and community groups in Canada that are \u201caffiliated or funded\u201d by the CCP to disseminate its propaganda. The FDA spokesperson stated, \u201cThe CCP has been intimidating and manipulating elected officials in Canada to prevent them from addressing rights abuses. The CCP\u2019s infiltration into Canada\u2019s political system and institutions is extremely concerning, as it undermines the Canadian government\u2019s ability to address and rectify the issue of interference itself.\u201d<\/p>\n The breaking news from Parliament Hill on Thursday, headlines the testimony from former Conservative Leader Erin O\u2019Toole, who remains \u201ca target of interest\u201d of the CCP, suggests CSIS. O\u2019Toole describes the government\u2019s current election interference system \u201ca colossal failure.\u201d<\/p>\n Last word on this disturbing subject matter goes to MP Michael Chong, who has dutifully endured the CCP\u2019s intimidation. Last month Chong was in Washington D.C. to speak before a special congressional commission looking into CCP foreign interference. To the American congressmen he stated, \u201cForeign interference is a serious national security threat to Canada. It threatens our economy, our long-term prosperity, social cohesion, our Parliament and our elections. It requires a suite of measures to combat, including putting closer co-operation among allied democracies.\u201d<\/p>\n As this week again shows, despite the fact that PM Trudeau and his ministers play hide and seek behind Judge Hague (who is MIA), there is no denying that the elephant remains.<\/p>\n Chris George<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0is an Ottawa-based government affairs advisor and wordsmith, president of\u00a0CG&A COMMUNICATIONS<\/a>. Contact:\u00a0ChrisG.George@gmail.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n