URAP Expresses Disappointment over Public Inquiry Rejection by Johnston
May 23, 2023
Canada’s Independent Special Rapporteur on Foreign Interference David Johnston released his anticipated report today, in which he rejects a public inquiry into foreign interference following controversy surrounding the intimidation and harassment of MP Michael Chong’s family by the Chinese government via a Chinese diplomat working in Canada, Zhao Wei. Instead, Johnston plans to hold a number of public hearings.
URAP is encouraged by Johnston’s commitment to work with diaspora communities on these hearings, and will fully participate if called upon; however, we are disappointed by this decision that lacks teeth. URAP urges the Prime Minister and all parliamentarians across party lines to exercise the utmost due diligence to ensure foreign interference is thoroughly and rigorously addressed, by initiating a public inquiry, to assure Canadians that Chinese interference stops here.
URAP has been advocating for government action on foreign interference for years, as Uyghur-Canadians have long been the subject of transnational repression by the CCP. Despite our warnings, corroborated by researchers, media, whistleblowers in parliament, and even CSIS – Chinese interference has been largely ignored.
Though we are glad the government will be addressing this issue with the Liberal party’s promise to table a bill to establish a foreign agent registry by the end of 2023 – it is important to address the reasons Chinese interference has been disregarded for years, in order to create more accountability going forward.
In order to move campaigns forward in parliament, public pressure is important, but political will is key – and that comes from the politicians who make up the cabinet and other influential members of parliament. Many of these politicians have aligned themselves with CCP-affiliated agents or organizations like the United Front Work Department or Chinese agents working within their campaigns, in the hopes of gaining more votes and influence. These affiliations may be made knowingly or unknowingly, but the lines are often blurred, as politicians have in many cases averted their eyes from possible interference when it suited their political needs. Furthermore, the cabinet – and many other Canadian politicians’ – policy on China has long maintained that despite the CCP’s human rights abuses, the Canada-China trade relationship is important for Canadian stakeholders, and cooperating with the CCP is essential to our economy. Anticipated economic gains from this cooperation have led the Canadian government to be cautious about speaking out against the CCP’s abusive policies, including the Uyghur genocide, for a long time – and about taking harsh, decisive action against Chinese interference.
Although these motivations – gaining votes and influence, and economic gains – seem convincing enough to continue Canada’s trend of inaction, there are remedies, and we are starting to see change.
Public pressure is somewhat intertwined with political will, especially when it comes to politicians gaining votes. As the media reports more on Chinese interference and Canadians develop a deeper awareness of the issue, they no longer want to support politicians or parties tainted with affiliations to the CCP. The controversy around MP Michael Chong’s harassment by a Chinese agent also provides another motivation, for MPs to protect each other and be protected from the same fate.
On the topic of trade, public pressure has not been as successful; Canadian public opinion polls over the last several years have consistently shown that Canadians would like trade with China to be reduced. In 2020, Nanos reported that 3 in 5 Canadians (61%) say they want Canada to trade less with China; Ipsos’ numbers were even higher, with 82% of respondents saying Canada should reduce its trade reliance with Beijing and 38% believing Ottawa should completely sever economic ties with China. So, when the cabinet has overwhelmingly cited Canadian stakeholders as a reason to maintain economic ties, this doesn’t seem to represent the majority of Canadians’ wishes; perhaps it represents stakeholders in parliament. Nevertheless, if economic gains are the key motivator, it is understandable that the government is starting to stand up to China more despite their earlier hesitancy. In 2022, Canada's trade deficit with China had reached $71.4 billion, an increase from around $57.2 billion in the previous year. In that year, Canada imported around $100 billion worth of goods from China. The failed hope for Canada to enjoy massive gains from China’s growing economy by turning a blind eye to its policies that flagrantly oppose Canadian values – is becoming a lesson for the Canadian government. They cannot exchange values for money or influence.
URAP hopes public pressure and disappointment about the lack of a public inquiry will likewise be a lesson to the Canadian government. Based on the changing tune on China in our parliament, we have many reasons to be hopeful that our government and elected representatives will continue to do the right thing. However, Johnston’s statement is a step backward. Canada cannot afford to continue ignoring China and Chinese interference; and the Liberal Party will not survive the scrutiny they will face for stepping away from Canadians’ calls to address the issues that are important to them.
For media inquiries:
miri@urap.ca