According to a recent report by Canadian media outlet, the Globe and Mail, China may have undertaken an operation to influence the outcome of Canada’s 2021 Federal elections in favor of the ruling Liberal Party. The article suggests that Chinese diplomats and their proxies worked to back the re-election of Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, while seeking to defeat Conservative politicians who were considered to be unfriendly towards Beijing.
The Strategy
The report suggests that China employed a sophisticated strategy to disrupt Canada’s democracy during the election campaign. It is alleged that disinformation campaigns and proxies connected to Chinese-Canadian organizations in Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area were used to voice opposition to the Conservatives and favour the Trudeau Liberals. The Chinese government was reportedly determined that the Conservatives should not win the election, as they were seen as being unfriendly to China.
A CSIS report cited an unidentified Chinese consulate official as saying, “The Liberal Party of Canada is becoming the only party that the PRC can support.” However, Beijing also preferred to restrict the Liberal Party Government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to a minority, as it “likes it when the parties in Parliament are fighting with each other, whereas if there is a majority, the party in power can easily implement policies that do not favour the PRC.”
The Targets
The operation reportedly targeted opposition Conservative Party incumbents Kenny Chiu and Alice Wong in British Columbia, and Indo-Canadian Bob Saroya in Ontario, each of whom lost in the September 2021 Federal elections, which resulted in the Liberals returning to power with another minority Government, having secured 160 seats as against 119 for the Conservatives. The report also suggests that MPs, including Jenny Kwan of the New Democratic Party in British Columbia, were targeted.
Reacting To The Report
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS, provided the documents for the Globe and Mail’s report. The report was quickly picked up by Canadian politicians and news outlets. Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, has repeatedly noted that China is attempting to interfere in Canadian democracy, including its elections. However, he has consistently maintained that such interference did not impact the results of the Federal polls.
On the other hand, the principal opposition Conservative Party leader, Pierre Poilievre, has claimed that Trudeau covered up the interference, and benefited from it. “He’s perfectly happy to let a foreign, authoritarian government interfere in our elections as long as they’re helping him,” said Poilievre.
The Final Words
The allegations of foreign interference in Canada’s Federal elections are concerning. It is essential to maintain the integrity of the democratic process in any country, and the possibility of foreign interference is something that needs to be taken seriously. However, until more information comes to light, it is impossible to know the full extent of China’s involvement in Canada’s recent election. Regardless, it is a matter that should be of concern to all Canadians, and indeed, to people all over the world who care about the integrity of democratic processes.