To understand this week’s bombshell about Members of Parliament (MPs) wittingly, or unwittingly aiding foreign governments against Canada, it’s helpful to return to the beginning.
The story on Chinese espionage goes back to February, 2023 kicking off with a shocking scoop by the Globe & Mail’s Robert Fife, and Steven Chase detailing a strategy by China to influence the 2021 federal election. I did a print screen of it here in my roundup for that week in news
A week later Global news had their piece from Sam Cooper, who has since moved to The Bureau. I published on it again discussing the piece, and adding some background from the Conservatives.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s Chief Of Staff Katie Telford testified on the issue.
Sam Cooper runs his own Substack on this platform called the Bureau. He’s reported a lot more in depth on developments. There are a lot of moving pieces to this, and Cooper has covered many of them.
NSICOP Issues Report MPS “wittingly” may have aided Chinese, India Governments
On Monday Liberal MP David McGuinty, who chairs the National Security Intelligence Committee Of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) presented a report, which more or less dropped a bombshell on Parliament. In his presentation he admitted that Members of Parliament may have wittingly or unwittingly aided the governments of China and India.
It felt like a grenade had been thrown. How can you put out a bombshell like that, without going further and asking for names? The answer came in the form of an extensive (for the RCMP) statement, shared by Steven Chase of the Globe& Mail on social media. The kernel comes in the second last paragraph. “Specific to the 43rd and 44th General Election, The RCMP did not conduct criminal investigations into election related activities at that time, however, after receiving additional information the RCMP initiated investigations.” It seems like the political communications got ahead of RCMP, because that statement would’ve had everyone realizing that maybe they’re quiet because they’re being investigated.
It’s about trust on two levels now. The first between elected MP’s and the constituents they represent. How are voters going to look at incumbent candidates in the next federal election know there’s a chance they may have committed treason? The second level is between MP’s themselves. How many of these MP’s are comfortable in the same room as each other knowing someone has wittingly or unwittingly committed treason by working with a foreign agent? It sets up a toxic workplace where everyone mistrusts each other, and nothing will get done.
I can see three ways these names get released. One- the government figures out a way to legally, and within the boundaries set by National Intelligence Officials as well as the RCMP to do so. Two, they are slowly leaked for political gain, which isn’t entirely off-brand for either Conservatives or Liberals to do. The third, is through the media. Regardless of how it happens, they need to be released. Parliament’s integrity depends on it.