Why politicians—and the public—look the other way.

By Garry Clement | The Bureau

Summary

Revelations of election interference and politicians scrutinized for ties to Beijing have escalated concerns about China’s influence on Canadian democracy. Despite growing coverage, many Canadians remain complacent to the threat of foreign interference.

Garry Clement, a former senior RCMP officer, looks closer at this complacency, which he connects to Canada’s long-standing economic relationship with China, one of Canada’s largest trading partners. Economic reliance makes politicians and business leaders hesitant to challenge China aggressively, he says.

Canadians may also not fully understand the implications of China’s interference. Covert influence operations, cyberattacks, and strategic partnerships are abstract and harder to identify than military aggression. This leaves Canada vulnerable to China’s sophisticated influence campaigns, which include the spread of misinformation and the manipulation of public opinion.

Canada’s tradition of diplomacy and peacekeeping also contributes to its reluctance to confront China, says Clement. There is a fear that taking a hard stance could escalate tensions, harm trade, or lead to diplomatic isolation. This fear was exacerbated by the 2018 detentions of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, seen as retaliation for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

For some politicians, reluctance to challenge China is about political expediency. The growing influence of Chinese-Canadian communities makes them an important voting bloc, and some politicians have been willing to downplay interference and even align with Chinese interests. Financial incentives play a role when politicians with ties to Chinese business interests prioritize maintaining favourable relations.

China’s influence in Canada involves more than trade and diplomacy, however. Beijing uses cultural diplomacy, media outreach, and lobbying to promote a narrative of China as a benevolent global partner. This persuades some Canadians to believe that strengthening ties with China is necessary, despite its authoritarian regime, disregard for human rights, and history of intellectual property theft.

The oversimplification of China’s actions in Canada is another problem. In today’s polarized political climate, China is often seen as either an economic partner or a strategic threat, preventing recognition of its dual role.

To address these challenges, says Clement, Canada needs a balanced approach that maintains economic engagement while protecting sovereignty, security, and democratic values.

The full report is available at the publisher’s website here.