Opinions

Canadians expect sensationalist politics from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, but hold higher expectations for NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and his party. by Michael Harris HALIFAX—The ghastly shitshow currently dominating Canada’s national politics is a multi-level disgrace.  The slimy assault on the reputation and character of David Johnston is unforgivable. If he had recommended a public […]

Hyper-partisan politics and shoddy reporting created a dangerous frenzy. by Michael Harris So David Johnston is a hack cashing in on a jammy per diem, the prime minister is a rank manipulator, and the report by a former governor general into alleged Chinese interference in Canadian elections, is just a little back-scratching from one old

Special rapporteur David Johnston said he reviewed the intelligence behind this allegation and came to conclude there was no truth to it by Ryan Tumilty Johnston, who was appointed to the role by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March, delivered the first of two reports Tuesday. In it he recommended against a public inquiry and

Canada should instead be looking at the problems the registry is trying to address and asking if the proposed solution is the correct one. by Yuen Pau Woo Public Safety Minster Marco Mendicino has launched a consultation on a proposed foreign influence transparency registry (FITA) and is seeking feedback on six specific questions. Unfortunately, they

Politicians would be wise to read David Brophy’s new book. by John Price When announcing public consultations with the intention to set up a foreign influence registry in March, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pointed to Australia as a model for Canada. In April, the Canada-People’s Republic of China Parliamentary Committee advocated that Canada “make

Alexander Csergo, accused of ‘reckless foreign interference’, is being held in a top-security jail cell in Australia. His case is a ‘show trial’, his lawyer says, which reflects ‘an absolute hypocrisy in our approach to doing business with China’. by Su-Lin Tan The Australian businessman arrested in Sydney last month on the criminal charge of

In March 2023, Public Safety initiated public consultations on the merits of a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry. The following are my submissions to this consultation process. My recommendations are informed by reports from CSIS on foreign interference, as well as reporting by advocacy groups like Alliance Canada Hong Kong. It also incorporates Canada’s constitutional jurisprudence

In a recent column, Rex Murphy asks some important questions about racism in Canada. Among others, he asks “How much are racism and discrimination actually ‘a part of the Canadian reality’? Are they overwhelmingly present? Are they … a central part of Canadian life?”. It would appear that these are posed as rhetorical questions to

Dear Minister: I am writing to provide my feedback on the proposed foreign influence transparency registry. Given the importance of this issue and my concerns about the impulses behind a registry, I will be making this letter public. I appreciate that your department has launched a consultation and is seeking feedback on six specific questions.

We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to reconsider its proposed Foreign Influence Transparency Registry. If current legislation is not adequate to deal with intimidation by foreign actors, the government should consider instead strengthening these laws. We do not believe, however, that a foreign influence registry will meaningfully address intimidation of