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Opinion
Is Canadian paranoia hurting relations with China and India?
- In the recent media frenzy, Canada has been portrayed as the victim of foreign countries trampling on its sovereignty
- It is not clear whether the Trudeau government is fully in control of its national security apparatus or is a hostage to hardliners within it
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Richard Desjardins retired in 2020 after a 29-year career as a Canadian public servant.
Allegations of foreign interference in Canada’s internal affairs have roiled the country for nearly a year now. Late last year, the Canadian media reported intelligence allegations of Chinese attempts to influence recent federal elections. Then, early this year, related intelligence reports were leaked to the media, reigniting the accusations.
More recently, the Canadian government itself has been making allegations – that the Indian government may have played a role in the assassination in Canada of a Canadian citizen of Sikh origin.
The Trudeau government has said it will further investigate the matter and has warned of consequences in international law. It appears that, in both instances, Canadian intelligence has been at the forefront of the discovery of foreign interference. In the case of the killing, Canadian officials are reported to have gathered communications of Indian diplomats in Canada. But Canadian officials have declined to release the specifics of the intelligence gathered.
In the media frenzy over these cases, Canada has been portrayed as the victim of foreign countries trampling on its sovereignty. But, as the recent uproar over the Canadian parliament honouring a veteran of a Nazi SS unit reveals, Canada is perfectly capable of shooting itself in the foot.
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