If the government’s special rapporteur, David Johnston, delivers his report no later than May 23, it will be almost 200 days since the first articles on China’s interference in the electoral process were published.
197 days to be exact.
In political crises it often happens that time does its work and solves the problems. The public loses interest in the scandal, other news hits the headlines, and the media moves on. The politician just has to persevere and weather the storm.
But in the case of Chinese interference, the problem is increasing week by week.
As the sand flows through the hourglass, layers of complexity build. And the consequences of inaction are increasing.
The Chinese flag flew on Parliament Hill in June 2016 when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Canadian counterpart at the time, Stephane Dion.
Photo: The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld
Fragmented Revelations
We first learned that Beijing had targeted 11 MPs (nine liberals and two conservatives) it wanted to favor in the 2019 federal election.
Then the Chinese regime would have devised an elaborate strategy for the 2021 election to allow a minority liberal government to be re-elected while banking on the defeat of the most recalcitrant MPs in Beijing. His modus operandi: misinformation and pressure on the Chinese diaspora in Canada.
The case took a more personal turn for Justin Trudeau when it was revealed that the foundation, which bears his father’s name, had received $140,000 from a Chinese donor, a sum that may have been offered in hopes of influencing the to take canadian politics.
The situation became worrying when threats against Conservative MP Michael Chong’s family surfaced. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) did not see fit to notify the affected principal, who cut ties with his family in Hong Kong precisely for her protection.
And it remains unclear who in the highest echelons of power knew about these threats.
Michael Chong serves on the committees on foreign affairs and international development, as well as on the panel dealing with Canada-China relations, among others.
Photo: The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld
What would have happened without the work of journalists – particularly Global and The Globe and Mail – and whistleblowers? Could Michael Chong have been told his family was threatened? Was the bullying diplomat expelled? Would the $140,000 check to the Trudeau Foundation have been refunded? Is the attention on the Chinese consulates putting pressure on the diaspora?
The answer to all of these questions is most likely “no,” suggesting that our knowledge of the extent of Beijing’s attempts at interference is still very limited.
Not knowing the extent of our ignorance makes it all the more urgent to shed some light on this matter.
crisis of confidence
By leaving it up to Special Rapporteur David Johnston to decide whether or not there should be a public inquiry into foreign interference, Justin Trudeau wasted precious weeks. However, all opposition parties urged him to address the issue quickly and launch an investigation.
Taking time did not prove to be a successful strategy, as by ignoring one problem the prime minister created a new one. The time that flowed from the top of the hourglass turned to suspicion as it reached the bottom.
Public trust in institutions, already battered by misinformation and conspiracy theories poisoning public debate, is eroding.
According to a Léger poll conducted last March, 29% of Canadians believe the voting system is unsafe. Almost one in three voters now views Canadian democracy with suspicion.
The Canadian public has seen the devastating effects of a crisis of confidence in the democratic process following the recent US presidential election. No one in Ottawa would benefit from this unrest spreading north of the border.
With David Johnston’s recommendations on interference set to be released in less than two weeks, it seems increasingly unlikely that the government can avoid a public inquiry into the matter. The lost time could have been used to have as little sand as possible in the gears of our democracy.