Trudeau seems like he’s buying time. If he did decide to form a commission of inquiry into foreign influence in Canada, it would likely not begin until the fall of 2023, if not the winter of 2024.
With the Trudeau government in the minority, an election could be held before the results of the inquiry are announced. That could satisfy the three main political parties in Ottawa.
Extended edition
The question of foreign influence goes beyond the question of China. It also affects the influence of other governments. For example, what influence does Punjab have on the Sikh ministers of the Trudeau government or on Jagmeet Singh? It is about the influence of the USA on the Canadian army, especially in the purchase of armaments. What other influence does Saudi Arabia have on the mosques it subsidizes?
These questions are disturbing but valid.
A commission of inquiry might conclude that foreign influence is marginal. This would be reassuring and elected officials could take the opportunity to better define the limits of foreign action.
Pandora’s box
However, such an investigation could also show the opposite. This investigation would become a veritable Pandora’s box.
The Canadian government does not want an investigation to lead to widespread suspicion about various immigrant groups. Such a suspicion would be catastrophic for multicultural ideology. It could fatally tear Canadian society apart.
However, if foreign influence is really growing in Canada, then it is high time to stop it before the country becomes ungovernable.
Given the dangers of such an investigation, it is better for the government to be selective and start an investigation against China, even if that means that investigation will be followed by investigations by other governments.
New revelations about China
China’s influence is well documented in several countries. New revelations about her come to light every week. For example, Yu Yintao, former technical director at ByteDance, a subsidiary of TikTok, just made an embarrassing pro-China statement in Washington.
According to him, the Chinese Communist Party is directly accessing TikTok users’ data outside of China. It censors certain topics. He promotes party propaganda.
These revelations do not surprise any China specialist. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
David Johnston’s resignation could be a boon as the Canadian government swiftly launches a special public inquiry into China’s influence, and more commissions into other countries’ influence will follow.
Otherwise, one would be tempted to conclude that China’s influence has already reached dangerous proportions.
