Former Governor-General David Johnston is reportedly set to recommend a "wide-ranging public enquiry" into Chinese interference in Canadian elections in response to allegations that the Chinese government attempted to influence Canada’s democratic process by supporting certain candidates. Johnston has been given a broad remit to examine the “extent and impact of foreign interference in Canada’s electoral processes” and any other relevant matter. This has included assessing how the government has responded to interference in previous elections and the most recent two. The publicly available evidence suggests that an enquiry is required rather than just strengthening Australian-Chinese relations.
Johnston’s report will reportedly come after allegations that the Chinese government supported the campaign of several candidates, favouring Liberal Party members, together with accusations that the Chinese consulate in Vancouver attempted to influence the outcome of the October 2022 election. It also followed reports of attempts by Beijing to interfere with the family of Michael Chong, the MP behind the effort by the House of Commons to condemn genocidal practices against China’s Uyghur community. Reports of Canadian allegations against China have varied, with analysts predicting risks including canola, pork and retail exports there, but others have suggested the Chinese government is hoping that interference accusations will fade away.
Meanwhile, Eddie Goldenberg, who was senior adviser to ex-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, has called for both strategic and economic reasons to encourage closer relations with China. However, a properly conducted public inquiry could help rather than hinder the relationship, the article concludes. The inquiry could help ensure transparency and improve trust, rather than simply relying on potential political accusations risking further economic damage.
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has been accused of making dubious promises and claims, including that a Poilievre government would guarantee that certain people will be denied bail. The move, which required the domestic abrogation of Charter rights, is unconstitutional and would be legally illiterate and unconstitutional, according to Andrew Phillips, a columnist writing for the Toronto Star. Poilievre has also said that the Canadian government's policy permitting safer consumption sites and enhancing opioid access to addicts was killing people, despite previous studies suggesting policies had saved thousands of lives.
David Johnston to reveal Tuesday if public inquiry on foreign interference is needed
CBC
23-05-19 15:48
The result of a report by former governor general David Johnston on whether a public inquiry should be called to investigate concerns about foreign interference in Canadian elections will be released on 23 May. The appointment of Johnston, as the independent special rapporteur on foreign interference, was made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March. Among other things, the terms of reference for the role required Johnston to assess the extent and impact of foreign interference in Canada's elections, review the government's responses and share significant findings with the public.
Ontario is increasing its financial contribution in order to prevent automaker Stellantis from abandoning the construction of an electric vehicle battery plant in Windsor, Ontario. Although Stellantis and LG Energy Solution publicised a plan to build a $5bn factory last year, recent reports indicate that this plan has been prolonged due to the Canadian federal government failing to comply with bilateral agreements. The CEOs of Stellantis and LG Energy Solution wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicating that they have not received subsidies initially agreed on. Canada offered Volkswagen a capital contribution of $700m and a production final offer of $13bn for similar production incentives.
China’s ambassador to Canada, Cong Peiwu, has urged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau not to provoke further retaliation from China as Canada decides whether to launch an investigation into alleged meddling in Canadian politics by China. The controversy centres on leaks claiming Chinese officials covertly interfered in the last two elections. Cong suggested that Canada should consider pursuing an independent foreign policy rather than constantly following the lead of the US. He has also denied all Chinese meddling in Canadian affairs and suggested that the allegations were the result of “ideological bias”.
Opposition MPs in Canada are calling for a public inquiry into China’s foreign-interference operations. The calls come amid concerns that the Liberal government has failed to take seriously Beijing’s threat to the country’s democracy. Former governor-general David Johnston is set to recommend a public inquiry following mounting evidence of Chinese interference in the country’s election process. Highly classified documents have revealed that as many as 11 candidates in the 2019 election were targeted amidst concerns of a “known or suspected malign actor.” The government has already expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei, following his campaign of intimidation against Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong and his family members. In response, China sent home a Canadian diplomat based in Shanghai. Opposition MP Michael Cooper called for the inquiry, claiming that: “Canadians deserve answers and the only way to get those answers is through an independent public inquiry”.
China’s Ambassador to Canada, Cong Peiwu, has called on Canada to boost diplomatic and economic ties. Cong urged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to correct past mistakes and not provoke confrontation, adding that Ottawa should return to a more independent foreign policy of its own. Cong suggested relations between Canada and China had deteriorated in recent years, since the arrest in Vancouver of HuaweiChief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou, and China’s subsequent detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. The Chinese Ambassador accused Canada of making further provocative moves, in a dispute that dates back to December 2018. Canada has expelled a Chinese diplomat who was under suspicion of targeting a Conservative legislator and his family in Hong Kong. Cong also criticised moves by the US to settle scores with China on trade.
Canadian academic Marcel Schlaf wrote to The Globe and Mail newspaper calling on the country to spend over CAD14bn to develop ore resources, including the Ring of Fire deposit, so as to control the supply and value chain of metals from the get-go. “Do the feds or the province even know how much Stellantis is really worth?” asks correspondent Kevin Bishop, citing the vehicle maker's apparent weakness in EV development and market competition, suggesting it may not be viable long-term. Boudewyn van Oort of Victoria expounds that subsidies for electric vehicles are justified because, ultimately, they will replace hydrocarbons for the safety of the planet.
If there's a tug-of-war over conservatism, only one side is really pulling
CBC
23-05-20 08:00
Two former Conservative leadership candidates are vying for greater influence in Canada. Rick Peterson announced that Centre Ice Canadians, the organisation he established last year, intends to launch a new "centrist" political party. Maxime Bernier, who finished second in 2017, will run in a by-election in Portage-Lisgar, hoping to pull voters away from the Conservatives. He criticises the Conservative Party's inability to fight "cultural battles", claiming it is unwilling to address concerns such as the woke movement, transgenderism and mass immigration. While Poilievre may stand to gain from presenting himself as a reasonable alternative to Bernier, he too is inclined to chase the anti-woke vote, such as his recent criticism of Quebec teachers who shifted from Mother's Day to a celebration of all parents. While it is hard to see Bernier winning the Portage-Lisgar by-election, he does not need to win to draw significant support and pull votes away from the Conservatives.
The Canadian government is caught in a bidding war with the US to fund an electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Windsor, Canada. In a scramble to keep the planned $5bn Windsor plant in Canada, production subsidies matching those given by the US seem to be on the table. This follows the Federal Liberal government’s decision to allocate up to $13.2bn on subsidies to give VW’s first EV battery plant outside Europe a home in St Thomas, Ontario. The Trudeau government is not forthcoming regarding its negotiations with Stellantis or other companies. Initially it refused to confirm whether it matched Ontario’s $500m investment in the Stellantis battery plant earlier this year, later agreeing to match US production subsidies. Many economists are criticising this approach, saying it sets a terrible precedent and undercuts Canada’s built-in advantages in areas such as critical minerals, agriculture, forestry, and natural assets.
‘Listen to us’: LGBTQ activists seek help, prudence in raising human rights abroad
The Toronto Star
23-05-20 10:00
LGBTQ activists have urged for Canada to increase its efforts in the fight against organised movements to clamp down on sexual and gender minorities in African countries, whilst also remaining cautious about when to raise issues in public as foreign leaders commenting can lead to the narrative that the West is trying to impose LGBTQ issues on Africa. The country in question, Ghana, has outlawed homosexual acts since British rule; and following a political debate in August 2021, a bill that would ban gender-affirming care and jail people for up to a decade for purportedly promoting LGBTQ activities is being discussed. Activists are calling for greater coordination and funding to respond to the anti-LGBTQ movements being funded from overseas. Commenting on the situation, Ghanaian Alex Kofi Donkor, the founder of LGBT+ Rights Ghana, pleaded for Canada to take direction from the local LGBTQ representatives in African nations such as Ghana, who are on the frontline regarding these issues as they can offer the best solutions to instigate change.
The Group of Seven summit has witnessed the world's most powerful leaders in front of the world's cameras, frequently posing in arrangements with one another in various settings and against sober backdrop of bombed-out Hirsohima. The photo sessions act as one of the few windows into global discussion around which leaders habits are scrutinised and body language can be assessed. At such summits there is also little room for the staging of "silly shirts" pictures, a common feature of the colourful Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summits.
Giorgia Meloni, Italy's far-right Prime Minister, has dismissed criticism from Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over her stance on LGBTQ+ rights. At a G7 Summit press conference, Meloni claimed that Trudeau had fallen "victim" to "fake news" and propaganda, with the accusations not "correspond[ing] to reality". Last month, Meloni's government told Italian city halls to stop automatically registering both parents in same-sex couples as parents, limiting recognition to only the biological parent. LGBTQ+ rights activists held rallies in opposition to the move, calling it homophobic.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met at the G7 summit in Hiroshima where Zelensky expressed his thanks for the G7’s support. A joint statement also reasserted its intention to decrease its economic dependency on China while specifically calling on the country not to engage in “interference activities”. China was warned must “act in accordance with its obligations” under treaties governing diplomatic relations and not to “conduct interference activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities, the integrity of our democratic institutions and our economic prosperity”, which was added at Trudeau’s request.
The final day of the Group of Seven (G7) summit has passed in Hiroshima, with delegates including Ukraine's President Volodomyr Zelenskyy discussing the war, China’s dominance and the issues faced by the Global South. Joining the leaders were a number of key Asia-Pacific figures such as the Indian, South Korean, Indonesian and Australian prime ministers. The triennial met throughout the summit, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took some time off to visit Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and Museum. President Joe Biden met with Zelenskyy, Ukrainian Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister for talks. The G7 laid out a common de-risking path on China, while India's Narendra Modi commented that he would “amplify concerns of the Global South” at the summit.
Italian PM Meloni rejects criticism from Trudeau over LGBTQ rights
CBC
23-05-21 02:20
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has dismissed criticism about her government's stance on LGBTQ rights from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G7 Summit. Trudeau had expressed concern on Canadian television before private talks that he hoped to have with Meloni, but she rejected his remark as inaccurate and the result of "fake news". Meloni's government came under fire earlier this year for urging city halls to stop recognising both parents in same-sex relationships, which activists criticised as homophobic.
Zelenskyy and Trudeau meet face-to-face at G7 in Japan
CBC
23-05-21 01:58
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 summit in Japan, telling him that Canada stands with Ukraine. Zelenskyy has been trying to build international support for his plans to launch a counter-offensive against Russian troops. At the same time, the Russian defence ministry and the head of the Russian Wagner mercenary force claimed that the Ukrainian town of Bakhmut had fallen to Russian forces and was under complete Russian control. Ukrainian forces continue to hold positions in the city, however, according to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War.
The Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan has ended, with discussions centring around the Ukraine war, China’s growing dominance and support for the “Global South”. According to a communique, the G7 nations have agreed to support public-private initiatives to swerve China's “belt and road” initiative, to implement measures to counter state-backed “malicious cyber activities”, and to decarbonise energy systems by the end of the century. The G7 also signed a declaration committing to the protection of international maritime regulations, including the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes, navigation rights, and safety along sea lanes. G7 leaders expressed concern over the situation in the East and South China seas. The summit also saw the invitees from Indonesia, South Korea, India and Australia discuss issues such as Ebola, the impact of Brexit, terrorism and trade. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine was in the spotlight throughout the summit.
Anti-regime activists in Canada accuse Cuba of using YouTube channel to intimidate them
CBC
23-05-21 08:00
Thirteen Montrealers have claimed that the Cuban government has started a campaign of harassment to prevent them from protesting against one-party rule on the island. A social media account – operating under Col. Pedro Orlando Martínez, head of the political wing of Cuba's National Revolutionary Police, according to a Cuban defector – is spreading detailed allegations against the 13 men, accusing them of trafficking cocaine from Colombia to Canada. Critics of the government have argued that this is a tactic employed by the Cuban regime as a way of attacking the reputation of Cuban-Canadian protestors. Online criticism is banned in Cuba, with government officials able to prosecute cyber-terrorism.
The allegations have already resulted in one individual being called for an interview with the Cuban Ministry of the Interior, where he was filmed being interrogated by a Colonel Luis Morales. Morales and his men suggested that the interviewee was involved in drug trafficking and financing anti-government YouTubers. Canada was perceived as unable to protect the individuals named in the campaign. Critics argue that the campaign is an attempt to discredit Cuban-Canadian protestors by "attacking your reputation any way they can".
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged his continued support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Speaking at the G7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima, Trudeau said Canada would continue to train Ukrainian soldiers, and possibly pilots, for as long as necessary. The G7 leaders also sent a signal of strong support for Ukraine, with US President Joe Biden and other senior officials expressing their backing for joint training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s.
