My Opinion piece in today's paper "Trade with China never comes free" - The Globe and Mail

Trade with China never comes free - The Globe and Mail



Despite Mr. Trudeau’s intentions about straight talk on issues of concern, the truth is that China dictates “no-go” zones as the cost of its state investment. For example, Britain could renew relations with China only after agreeing to end high-level meetings with the Dalai Lama. No less will be demanded of Ottawa. Any Canadian talk about human rights, or China harassing people in Canada perceived to be hostile to the regime, or increasing cyberattacks and espionage, or Chinese expansion in the South China Sea, is dismissed by Beijing as, absurdly, “hurting the feelings of the Chinese people,” thereby disinclining state firms to trade and invest in Canada.

Then there is the alarming extent to which China has infiltrated Canada’s government and its bureaucracy, an issue raised by former CSIS director Richard Fadden in an interview with CBC’s As It Happens in April. Ottawa must address this threat with more seriousness of purpose.