Burton: A Trump victory represents a dangerous threat for Canada

A Trump victory represents a dangerous threat for Canada 

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/a-trump-victory-represents-a-dangerous-threat-for-canada/article_80a7b93c-96c8-11ef-9ac1-f37773f08355.html

 

For Canadians, Trump’s return would be a national emergency, as he abandons alliances and changes the reasons and goals behind deploying a superpower’s global influence.

This includes weakening pesky global institutions — the World Trade Organization, the United Nations — which foster diplomatic and economic principles, and equal sovereignty among nations. Trump is also defined by disdain for NATO, reluctance to defend Ukraine from Russia’s onslaught, and an inclination to abandon democratic Taiwan (at least, assuming China offers the right terms).

Could Canada counter Beijing rushing to fill the global vacuum, especially in light of Chinese interference in our own democracy and sovereignty? In Ottawa, Justice Marie-Josée Hogue’s Foreign Interference Commission appears to be floundering as the Government, fearing negative exposure, minimizes transparency in favour of self-interested obfuscation and withholding critical documents.

Against such a troubling horizon, there are actions Canada can and must take to safeguard national security. These include reducing China’s enormous cohort of diplomats in Canada to numbers consistent with legitimate diplomatic needs; giving CSIS and the RCMP resources comparable to how China funds subversion and espionage in Canada; being forthcoming with what classified investigations learn about China’s malign activities; and banning politicians and civil servants from accepting foreign-funded benefits after they leave public service.

Charles Burton's Statement at National Press Gallery on October 28, 2024

 

 

4 Proposals for Canada's Response to Chinese Foreign Interference Activities in Canada: 

1. Reduce number of accredited Chinese diplomats in Canada 

2. Allow more transparency over what classified investigations determine 

3. Augment resources to countering Chinese malign activities in Canada 

4. Prevent public servants from accepting foreign benefits and funds post-retirement from positions of trust in government

Charles Burton Statement on Chinese EVs to Commons Standing Committee on International Trade September 18, 2024

Burton: There’s a strong case for banning the import of Chinese EVs

Burton: There’s a strong case for banning the import of Chinese EVs

https://www.ipolitics.ca/opinions/theres-a-strong-case-for-banning-the-import-of-chinese-evs

 

 

Already buoyed by cheap labour, China’s EV manufacturers have received hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese government subsidies to develop high-tech, attractive vehicles which could flood world markets at bargain prices and devastate domestic auto industries.

But more than suffering fiscal carnage in a price war on car lots, the darker concern is how these EVs — whose advanced software can be manipulated remotely from China — could abet Beijing’s foreign interference, even congesting Western cities and transportation systems as legions of immobilized vehicles suddenly stop working.

There is a particularly sobering realization of the role Chinese technology could play in kinetic conflict. Future wars will not be characterized by bridges being blown up in far-off lands. Technology, possibly including software embedded in cars around the world, will be used to sabotage everything from communications to transportation, health care and food supply chains.

 

China sells its EVs cheaply because of geostrategic benefit costed in; Huawei was typically 30 per cent cheaper than Nokia or Ericsson.

 

Without firing a shot, Beijing could coordinate a massive attack on our domestic stability. It could easily threaten the ability of Canadian government agencies like the Communications Security Establishment to monitor malign backdoor capabilities slipped into software updates on Chinese equipment that extend to millions of lines of code.

This issue illustrates the challenges of balancing economic benefits with national security in an increasingly interconnected world, and underscores the importance of stringent cybersecurity measures in protecting public infrastructure.

 

 

Burton: Canada's new top soldier needs to protect our Arctic from China

Burton: Canada's new top soldier needs to protect our Arctic from China

https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/burton-canadas-new-top-soldier-needs-to-protect-our-arctic-from-china

As for our traditionally protective southern neighbour, regardless of how the U.S. political landscape plays out after Joe Biden’s withdrawal from this fall’s election, the days of America covering for Canada are gone. Republican policy prioritizing U.S. isolationism over international alliances reflects the sentiments of millions of Americans. The U.S. military presence around the world will henceforth be based on the costs — and benefits — to America.

So when China or Russia encroach on Arctic regions that Canada has always claimed as sovereign territory — but where we have no physical presence — it is folly to expect Donald Trump to rescue us.

If, or when, Washington slashes its funding — which presently accounts for 68 per cent of NATO’s budget — it is plausible that Canada will not help European allies cover the shortfall.

Canada could begin salvaging its reputation as a responsible ally if we were seen as legitimately trying to make strenuous efforts to defend our sovereignty with advanced technologies and a highly skilled military. To that end, Gen. Carignan should essentially put Canada on a war footing by taking prominent measures to spotlight and confront our crises of recruitment shortfalls and chronic procurement delays.

Charles Burton: Many know about foreign interference, but no one’s doing anything about it

Charles Burton: Many know about foreign interference, but no one’s doing anything about it

https://www.ipolitics.ca/opinions/many-know-about-foreign-interference-but-no-ones-doing-anything-about-it

Having studied the complex mechanism of Chinese influence operations on Canadian politicians, from both inside and outside government, since the 1990s, I have a good idea of who CSIS is worried about in Ottawa.

My own list includes members from all three main parties. Most have had their photos taken at events in Canada and China, the flag of China displayed prominently, standing alongside Chinese figures with known murky backgrounds.

We are dealing with a deep, serious danger that nobody seems able or willing to confront. Apparently, there things that both the Government and the Opposition want to suppress forever, and we can assume that any information the Government censored from the redacted version of NSICOP’s findings will likewise not be revealed to the public by Justice Hogue.

Canadians need CSIS to show some patriotic mettle and provide the RCMP with any information that could form the basis of criminal investigations into the serious cases.

And CSIS also needs to tell MPs and Senators suspected of lesser disloyalties that they are being monitored, and must terminate contact with foreign agent contacts immediately — or potentially face prosecution under upcoming anti-foreign interference legislation.

Charles Burton: Opening Statement to the Canadian Senate's National Security, Defence and Veterans' Affairs Committee Study of Bill C-70 on June 13, 2024

Charles Burton: Opening Statement to the Canadian Senate's National Security, Defence and Veterans' Affairs Committee Study of Bill C-70 on June 13, 2024