Well at least no one is talking about the truckers convoy .Hmmmm….gets weirder. Sources with ties to the Trudeau Foundation say the organization’s leadership is divided on how to handle the 2016 gift after it was reported by The Globe and Mail that the Chinese government was behind it as part of an influence operation to curry favour with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
View attachment 17889
A businessman whose reported donations to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation led to the resignation of its CEO is the president of a Chinese cultural organization that says it operates under the authority of the communist government.
Since the Globe report, senior staff and board members who joined the foundation after 2016 have discovered that the donor of record was Millennium Golden Eagle International, a Chinese state-affiliated company run by billionaire Zhang Bin. They have also learned that associated tax receipts may not be accurate. Zhang is a political adviser to the government in Beijing and a senior official in China’s network of state promoters around the world.
View attachment 17890
The website of the China Cultural Industry Association says it adheres to the "total leadership" of the Chinese Communist Party and was formed with the approval of China's State Council, which is synonymous with the central government.
The China Cultural Industry Association said in 2016 on its WeChat social media account that it has set up a "Trudeau Education Fund" at the Université de Montreal.
View attachment 17891
The association says on its Chinese-language site that its president is Zhang Bin, a Chinese billionaire that the Globe and Mail reported had donated $200,000 to the foundation in 2016, along with another Chinese businessman.
But the Globe reported that a receipt named a company called Millennium Golden Eagle International (Canada) as the donor.
View attachment 17892
The China Cultural Industry Association says Millennium Golden Eagle International is one of its executive board members and was created with the approval of China's culture ministry.
At a news conference in Regina on Thursday, Trudeau repeated that he has not had ties to the organization that bears his father's name for about 10 years. "And it continues to be that way," he said.
View attachment 17888
But on Tuesday, its board of directors and president resigned, saying the politicization of the charity made it "impossible to continue with the status quo."
The foundation, for its part, had promised to return the $200,000 donation that came from Zhang and Niu Gensheng. Montreal-based La Presse reported Wednesday that the foundation was not able to return the money it received from Millennium Golden Eagle, which ultimately amounted to $140,000.
Trudeau Foundation donor heads group under Chinese Communist Party 'total leadership'
A businessman whose reported donations to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation led to the resignation of its CEO is the president of a Chinese cultural organization that says it operates under the authority of the communist government.www.rmoutlook.com
Trudeau Foundation donor heads group that adheres to 'total leadership' of Chinese Communist Party
Zhang Bin, who reportedly made a donation to the Trudeau Foundation, leads an organization under leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.nationalpost.com
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet wrote to the Auditor General of Canada, Karen Hogan, to remind her that not only had the reimbursement not been made, but that the signatory of the original check would not be the real one. donor.
Le donateur à la Fondation Trudeau est lié à un organisme contrôlé par le PC chinois
Un homme d’affaires dont les dons à la Fondation Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau ont conduit à la démission de sa PDG et du conseil d’administration est le président de l’»Association chinoise de l’industrie culturelle», qui affirme mener ses activités sous l’autorité du gouvernement communiste.www.lesoleil.com
View attachment 17893
Mr. Blanchet finds these revelations extremely concerning. In his opinion, the allegations of foreign interference raise fears and affect public confidence in Canadian institutions.
Prime Minister Trudeau recently appointed former Governor General David Johnston as a “special rapporteur” to investigate foreign interference.
The massive resignations at the foundation give the prime minister an additional reason to revoke the mandate granted to David Johnston, according to Yves-François Blanchet.
View attachment 17894
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre recalled this week that Johnston was a member of the Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Foundation. He posted on his Twitter account on Wednesday a copy of a letter he allegedly sent to Mr. Johnston.
His scathing and terse missive read: “Dear Reporter, explain this: how are you going to investigate Beijing’s donation to the Trudeau Foundation while you were part of the Trudeau Foundation? I am waiting for your answer “.
Rapporteur David Johnson, Eminent Canadian
- Thread starter Ron in Regina
- Start date
United front[a] is a political strategy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) involving networks of groups and key individuals that are influenced or controlled by the CCP and used to advance its interests. It has historically been a popular front that has included eight legally-permitted political parties and people's organizations which have nominal representation in the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).[3] Under CCP general secretary Xi Jinping, the united front and its targets of influence have expanded in size and scope.[4][5][6][7][8]Hmmmm….gets weirder. Sources with ties to the Trudeau Foundation say the organization’s leadership is divided on how to handle the 2016 gift after it was reported by The Globe and Mail that the Chinese government was behind it as part of an influence operation to curry favour with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
View attachment 17889
A businessman whose reported donations to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation led to the resignation of its CEO is the president of a Chinese cultural organization that says it operates under the authority of the communist government.
Since the Globe report, senior staff and board members who joined the foundation after 2016 have discovered that the donor of record was Millennium Golden Eagle International, a Chinese state-affiliated company run by billionaire Zhang Bin. They have also learned that associated tax receipts may not be accurate. Zhang is a political adviser to the government in Beijing and a senior official in China’s network of state promoters around the world.
View attachment 17890
The website of the China Cultural Industry Association says it adheres to the "total leadership" of the Chinese Communist Party and was formed with the approval of China's State Council, which is synonymous with the central government.
The China Cultural Industry Association said in 2016 on its WeChat social media account that it has set up a "Trudeau Education Fund" at the Université de Montreal.
View attachment 17891
The association says on its Chinese-language site that its president is Zhang Bin, a Chinese billionaire that the Globe and Mail reported had donated $200,000 to the foundation in 2016, along with another Chinese businessman.
But the Globe reported that a receipt named a company called Millennium Golden Eagle International (Canada) as the donor.
View attachment 17892
The China Cultural Industry Association says Millennium Golden Eagle International is one of its executive board members and was created with the approval of China's culture ministry.
At a news conference in Regina on Thursday, Trudeau repeated that he has not had ties to the organization that bears his father's name for about 10 years. "And it continues to be that way," he said.
View attachment 17888
But on Tuesday, its board of directors and president resigned, saying the politicization of the charity made it "impossible to continue with the status quo."
The foundation, for its part, had promised to return the $200,000 donation that came from Zhang and Niu Gensheng. Montreal-based La Presse reported Wednesday that the foundation was not able to return the money it received from Millennium Golden Eagle, which ultimately amounted to $140,000.
Trudeau Foundation donor heads group under Chinese Communist Party 'total leadership'
A businessman whose reported donations to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation led to the resignation of its CEO is the president of a Chinese cultural organization that says it operates under the authority of the communist government.Trudeau Foundation donor heads group that adheres to 'total leadership' of Chinese Communist Party
Zhang Bin, who reportedly made a donation to the Trudeau Foundation, leads an organization under leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet wrote to the Auditor General of Canada, Karen Hogan, to remind her that not only had the reimbursement not been made, but that the signatory of the original check would not be the real one. donor.Le donateur à la Fondation Trudeau est lié à un organisme contrôlé par le PC chinois
Un homme d’affaires dont les dons à la Fondation Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau ont conduit à la démission de sa PDG et du conseil d’administration est le président de l’»Association chinoise de l’industrie culturelle», qui affirme mener ses activités sous l’autorité du gouvernement communiste.www.lesoleil.com
View attachment 17893
Mr. Blanchet finds these revelations extremely concerning. In his opinion, the allegations of foreign interference raise fears and affect public confidence in Canadian institutions.
Prime Minister Trudeau recently appointed former Governor General David Johnston as a “special rapporteur” to investigate foreign interference.
The massive resignations at the foundation give the prime minister an additional reason to revoke the mandate granted to David Johnston, according to Yves-François Blanchet.
View attachment 17894
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre recalled this week that Johnston was a member of the Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Foundation. He posted on his Twitter account on Wednesday a copy of a letter he allegedly sent to Mr. Johnston.
His scathing and terse missive read: “Dear Reporter, explain this: how are you going to investigate Beijing’s donation to the Trudeau Foundation while you were part of the Trudeau Foundation? I am waiting for your answer “.
United front organizations are managed primarily by the United Front Work Department (UFWD), but the united front strategy is not limited solely to the UFWD. CPPCC is considered to be the highest-ranking united front organization, being central to the system.[9] Outside of China, the strategy involves numerous front organizations, which tend to obfuscate or downplay any association with the CCP.[9][10][11][12]
United front (China) - Wikipedia
United Front Work Department
Article Talk
The United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (UFWD; simplified Chinese: 中共中央统一战线工作部; traditional Chinese: 中共中央統一戰線工作部; pinyin: Zhōnggòng zhōngyāng tǒngyī zhànxiàn gōngzuò bù) is a department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which is officially tasked with "united front work". For this endeavor, it gathers intelligence on, manages relations with, and attempts to influence elite individuals and organizations inside and outside China, including in Hong Kong and Taiwan.[1][2] The UFWD focuses its work on people or entities that are outside the CCP, especially in overseas Chinese communities, who hold political, commercial, or academic influence, or who represent interest groups.[3][4] Through its efforts, the UFWD seeks to ensure that these individuals and groups are supportive of or useful to CCP interests and that potential critics remain divided.[5][6][7]
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Katie Telford, chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will testify before a parliamentary committee later today on what she knew — or didn't — about the extent of the Chinese government's interference in Canada's past two elections.
The Globe and Mail has published reports alleging that Beijing tried to ensure the Liberals won a minority government in the last general election and worked to defeat Conservative candidates who were critical of China.
Global News reported last fall that in 2019, intelligence officials told Trudeau that China's consulate in Toronto had floated cash to at least 11 federal election candidates "and numerous Beijing operatives" who worked as campaign staffers.
Trudeau has said repeatedly he was “never” briefed about federal candidates receiving money from China. His national security and intelligence adviser, Jody Thomas, has also gone on record saying she's seen no evidence that any candidates in the 2019 federal election were influenced by financing from the Chinese government.
MPs are expected to grill Telford today about what she was briefed on and what she passed on to the prime minister.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Trudeau said again that his government takes the threat of foreign interference in elections “seriously” and cited measures taken, including the establishment of an interference monitoring committee.
The Prime Minister's Office has signalled already that Telford won't be able to answer questions about sensitive intelligence matters.
She will, however, be able to discuss the "extent and the timing" of briefings given to the prime minister on allegations that Beijing tried to tilt the 2019 and 2021 elections toward the Liberals, said intelligence expert Wesley Wark.
Previously, top security officials, including Thomas, promised to give the committee a list of the briefing dates. The clerk of the procedure and House affairs committee told CBC News that as of Thursday afternoon, no such list had been delivered.
Liberal MPs on the committee tried to prevent today's committee appearance from happening. They filibustered the House of Commons for hours, over the span of a heated two weeks, to stall a vote calling her to appear.
The logjam was ‘cleared’ when the Prime Minister's Office announced last month that she would appear before the committee.
Committee member and Conservative MP Michael Cooper, who brought forward the motion to call her as a witness, has called her a "critical witness to get to the heart of the scandal."
"She's the second most powerful person in this government, arguably. But not only that, she played an integral role in the 2019 and 2021 election campaigns on behalf of the Liberal Party," he said last month.
An independent panel tasked with overseeing the 2021 election did detect attempts at interference but concluded that foreign meddling did not affect the outcome. (??????)
apple.news
apple.news
The Globe and Mail has published reports alleging that Beijing tried to ensure the Liberals won a minority government in the last general election and worked to defeat Conservative candidates who were critical of China.
Global News reported last fall that in 2019, intelligence officials told Trudeau that China's consulate in Toronto had floated cash to at least 11 federal election candidates "and numerous Beijing operatives" who worked as campaign staffers.
Trudeau has said repeatedly he was “never” briefed about federal candidates receiving money from China. His national security and intelligence adviser, Jody Thomas, has also gone on record saying she's seen no evidence that any candidates in the 2019 federal election were influenced by financing from the Chinese government.
MPs are expected to grill Telford today about what she was briefed on and what she passed on to the prime minister.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Trudeau said again that his government takes the threat of foreign interference in elections “seriously” and cited measures taken, including the establishment of an interference monitoring committee.
The Prime Minister's Office has signalled already that Telford won't be able to answer questions about sensitive intelligence matters.
She will, however, be able to discuss the "extent and the timing" of briefings given to the prime minister on allegations that Beijing tried to tilt the 2019 and 2021 elections toward the Liberals, said intelligence expert Wesley Wark.
Previously, top security officials, including Thomas, promised to give the committee a list of the briefing dates. The clerk of the procedure and House affairs committee told CBC News that as of Thursday afternoon, no such list had been delivered.
Liberal MPs on the committee tried to prevent today's committee appearance from happening. They filibustered the House of Commons for hours, over the span of a heated two weeks, to stall a vote calling her to appear.
The logjam was ‘cleared’ when the Prime Minister's Office announced last month that she would appear before the committee.
Committee member and Conservative MP Michael Cooper, who brought forward the motion to call her as a witness, has called her a "critical witness to get to the heart of the scandal."
"She's the second most powerful person in this government, arguably. But not only that, she played an integral role in the 2019 and 2021 election campaigns on behalf of the Liberal Party," he said last month.
An independent panel tasked with overseeing the 2021 election did detect attempts at interference but concluded that foreign meddling did not affect the outcome. (??????)
Trudeau's top aide says election interference allegations 'don't add up' to her — CBC News
Katie Telford, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's top adviser, said some of the recent allegations regarding what her party knew about the Chinese government's attempts to interfere in the past two elections "don't add up" to her.
KINSELLA: Don't expect fireworks when Katie Telford testifies on Chinese election interference — Toronto Sun
Trudeau's chief of staff knows sounding as boring as possible is her best strategy when she appears before the Parliamentary committee
Does anyone expect answers ? I am not confident .Katie Telford, chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will testify before a parliamentary committee later today on what she knew — or didn't — about the extent of the Chinese government's interference in Canada's past two elections.
The Globe and Mail has published reports alleging that Beijing tried to ensure the Liberals won a minority government in the last general election and worked to defeat Conservative candidates who were critical of China.
Global News reported last fall that in 2019, intelligence officials told Trudeau that China's consulate in Toronto had floated cash to at least 11 federal election candidates "and numerous Beijing operatives" who worked as campaign staffers.
Trudeau has said repeatedly he was “never” briefed about federal candidates receiving money from China. His national security and intelligence adviser, Jody Thomas, has also gone on record saying she's seen no evidence that any candidates in the 2019 federal election were influenced by financing from the Chinese government.
MPs are expected to grill Telford today about what she was briefed on and what she passed on to the prime minister.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Trudeau said again that his government takes the threat of foreign interference in elections “seriously” and cited measures taken, including the establishment of an interference monitoring committee.
The Prime Minister's Office has signalled already that Telford won't be able to answer questions about sensitive intelligence matters.
She will, however, be able to discuss the "extent and the timing" of briefings given to the prime minister on allegations that Beijing tried to tilt the 2019 and 2021 elections toward the Liberals, said intelligence expert Wesley Wark.
Previously, top security officials, including Thomas, promised to give the committee a list of the briefing dates. The clerk of the procedure and House affairs committee told CBC News that as of Thursday afternoon, no such list had been delivered.
Liberal MPs on the committee tried to prevent today's committee appearance from happening. They filibustered the House of Commons for hours, over the span of a heated two weeks, to stall a vote calling her to appear.
The logjam was ‘cleared’ when the Prime Minister's Office announced last month that she would appear before the committee.
Committee member and Conservative MP Michael Cooper, who brought forward the motion to call her as a witness, has called her a "critical witness to get to the heart of the scandal."
"She's the second most powerful person in this government, arguably. But not only that, she played an integral role in the 2019 and 2021 election campaigns on behalf of the Liberal Party," he said last month.
An independent panel tasked with overseeing the 2021 election did detect attempts at interference but concluded that foreign meddling did not affect the outcome. (??????)
Trudeau's top aide says election interference allegations 'don't add up' to her — CBC News
Katie Telford, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's top adviser, said some of the recent allegations regarding what her party knew about the Chinese government's attempts to interfere in the past two elections "don't add up" to her.KINSELLA: Don't expect fireworks when Katie Telford testifies on Chinese election interference — Toronto Sun
Trudeau's chief of staff knows sounding as boring as possible is her best strategy when she appears before the Parliamentary committee
She has testified before Parliamentarians probing other scandals in the past. In every case, she did not lose her cool, she did not make a mistake, she did not even break into a sweat. She knows that sounding as boring as possible is the best strategy in these situations. So count on her to be boring and avoid any pratfalls.
Telford has more facts than the Parliamentarians. As the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Canada, Telford would be the only political aide who has sat in on national security briefings with the Prime Minister. She is the only one who knows the full truth and nothing but the truth.
Based upon some fine reporting by Global News and The Globe and Mail and others, we know — or we strongly suspect — that Trudeau and Telford were told about Chinese election criminality in both 2019 and 2021. And we know — or we strongly suspect — that neither of them did anything about it. But, in fairness to her, it is against the law for her to disclose national security matters in public.
She would go to jail if she did so. So she may know a lot — but she can’t say a lot when she appears to testify….& that’s why Trudeau finally “allowed” her to testify.
She won’t say anything is my best guess . She is a liberal and politician .
She’s not really a politician, though she swims in politics for a living. I agree that she probably won’t say much of anything, BUT….
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau received at least five formal briefings from top national security officials on foreign interference in Canada since 2021, according to documents shared with a House of Commons committee.
Trudeau was briefed at least 5 times on foreign interference since 2021: docs — Global News
Trudeau’s national security advisor says there have been 'numerous' informal discussions with the PM about foreign interference since Global’s initial reporting in November.
Those formal briefings are in addition to “numerous” informal discussions about the issue with Trudeau and his staff since November 2022, when Global News began publishing reports about alleged Chinese political interference in Canadian federal elections.
This is not saying that he was briefed before the 2019 and 2021 elections though…specifically about names of MPs receiving Chinese $$$….
The information comes from Jody Thomas, Trudeau’s national security and intelligence advisor (NSIA), in a submission to the House of Commons committee probing the issue of Beijing’s covert influence over Canadian politics and politicians. The document, which was obtained by Global News, includes an approximate list of national security briefings on foreign interference to Trudeau, his senior staff, cabinet ministers and security-cleared representatives of federal political parties.
While Thomas’ submission provides specific dates for almost every briefing to Trudeau, it also states that a total of eight briefings were given to the Liberal cabinet or cabinet committees since 2018 — but does NOT list specific dates for those group sessions.
In addition to formal briefings to Trudeau from the NSIA and David Vigneault, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Trudeau’s cabinet was briefed at least eight times on foreign interference issues since 2018.
The disclosures came ahead of the widely anticipated testimony of Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of staff, at the House of Commons’ procedure and House affairs committee on Friday afternoon.
Makes Trump look like an angel.She’s not really a politician, though she swims in politics for a living. I agree that she probably won’t say much of anything, BUT….
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau received at least five formal briefings from top national security officials on foreign interference in Canada since 2021, according to documents shared with a House of Commons committee.
Trudeau was briefed at least 5 times on foreign interference since 2021: docs — Global News
Trudeau’s national security advisor says there have been 'numerous' informal discussions with the PM about foreign interference since Global’s initial reporting in November.
Those formal briefings are in addition to “numerous” informal discussions about the issue with Trudeau and his staff since November 2022, when Global News began publishing reports about alleged Chinese political interference in Canadian federal elections.
This is not saying that he was briefed before the 2019 and 2021 elections though…specifically about names of MPs receiving Chinese $$$….
The information comes from Jody Thomas, Trudeau’s national security and intelligence advisor (NSIA), in a submission to the House of Commons committee probing the issue of Beijing’s covert influence over Canadian politics and politicians. The document, which was obtained by Global News, includes an approximate list of national security briefings on foreign interference to Trudeau, his senior staff, cabinet ministers and security-cleared representatives of federal political parties.
While Thomas’ submission provides specific dates for almost every briefing to Trudeau, it also states that a total of eight briefings were given to the Liberal cabinet or cabinet committees since 2018 — but does NOT list specific dates for those group sessions.
In addition to formal briefings to Trudeau from the NSIA and David Vigneault, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Trudeau’s cabinet was briefed at least eight times on foreign interference issues since 2018.
The disclosures came ahead of the widely anticipated testimony of Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of staff, at the House of Commons’ procedure and House affairs committee on Friday afternoon.
Bigly?
Justin Trudeau’s chief of staff has acknowledged “it is quite possible” the prime minister was briefed on a Chinese election interference scheme in January 2022.
Telford said that a list of “formal” intelligence briefings for Trudeau that was provided to the hearing by his national security advisor Jody Thomas, was “not exhaustive.”
Telford did not confirm or deny whether Trudeau and his office were made aware of specific allegations of election interference that were reported in a January 2022 Privy Council Office “Special Report” — a document that Global News has reviewed and reported on.
China's Consul General threatens Tory MP Bob Saroya before 2021 election, committee hears — Global News
Katie Telford, Justin Trudeau's most trusted aide, told a parliamentary committee about intelligence briefings the prime minister received on foreign election interference.
PM briefed at least 6 times on foreign election interference since 2018, says PCO document — CBC News
A document tabled before a House of Commons committee Friday says that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has received at least six briefings on foreign election interference since October 2018. The document reports who in the federal government was briefed on foreign interference and when.
The Privy Council Office (PCO) tabled the document, entitled "Briefings on Foreign Election interference," just before the prime minister's chief of staff Katie Telford began her testimony before the procedure and House affairs committee (PROC).
The document lists those who have been briefed on foreign interference since 2018, when they were briefed and who provided the briefing.
"Specific topics are not included in the list below to protect their classification, though briefings may address specific threats or adverse activity, as well as broader policy proposals and approaches related to foreign interference in elections," the document says….not necessarily as advertised or seen on TV, may or may not contain milk or milk products, nut or nut derivatives, etc….
The PCO document says that its lists are not exhaustive because records of the briefings may be incomplete. The first list in the document details briefings to the prime minister; it starts with a briefing on Oct. 22, 2018 by the national security and intelligence adviser (NSIA). The most recent briefing of the prime minister listed in the document happened on March 20, 2023, and was delivered by the NSIA and the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). The document says Trudeau was also briefed on Feb. 9, 2021, June 14, 2022, Oct. 27, 2022 and Nov. 30, 2022. Those briefings all came from either the NSIA or the director of CSIS.
Cabinet as a whole received eight briefings since 2018, according to the document. It does not say when the briefings happened or who delivered them — only that they came from "senior public servants." (?)
The minister of democratic institutions got the most individual briefings — ten of them, all between 2018 and 2019 (the government dropped the portfolio in 2019).
The last list tabled before the committee cites briefings given to political party representatives the PCO cleared to receive classified information.
There are 13 such briefings listed, dating from June 17, 2019 to Oct. 22, 2021. Most were given to cleared political party representatives, though two were given only to Liberal Party representatives and three were given only to Conservatives. The document does not say who gave the briefings, etc…blah blah blah….The rest of the above CBC link.
—————————————————————
Katie Telford wanted to be very clear, she could neither confirm nor deny any allegations about China’s election interference.
Telford, chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau since he was first elected in 2015, was testifying before a Commons committee on Friday.
Despite her repeated claims that she couldn’t talk about allegations, she wanted to make one thing clear, claims of “$250,000” being disbursed to “11 candidates” in the “Greater Toronto Area” in the 2019 election were not backed up by fact in her view.
LILLEY: Telford selective and self-serving in what she would answer — Toronto Sun
Katie Telford wanted to be very clear, she could neither confirm nor deny any allegations about China’s election interference. Telford, chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau since he was first elected in 2015, was testifying before a Commons committee on Friday. Despite her repeated...
“The connection that was being made between these candidates and the funds was inaccurate,” Telford said.
If Telford wanted to claim that she couldn’t talk about allegations due to national security concerns, that should have applied to everything, not just things she wanted to selectively speak about. It also raises questions about other allegations.
Does her statement mean that just the funds part was inaccurate? Does it mean that all the other allegations that she wouldn’t discuss are accurate?
Telford’s appearance was frustrating to put it mildly, not only because of her refusal to answer questions she easily could have answered that were not covered by anything to do with national security secrets, but also because of the conduct of the MPs.
Liberal MPs on the committee attempted to use their time to either ask softball questions or attempt to prosecute the Conservatives for being partisan.
One Liberal MP even asked Telford to comment on the need to differentiate between allegations of Chinese election interference and Chinese-Canadians???
Of course, there is a difference and MPs have heard that from Chinese-Canadians themselves who have appeared before the Commons begging them to take this issue seriously and pointing out that they are the victims of the bullying and harassments that comes with China’s attempts to sway our elections.
As usual, the Liberals brought this up to insinuate racism is even asking questions about China’s meddling in Canada’s democracy, etc…
In a matter such as this, there will always be questions that cannot be answered in a public forum due to security concerns. Telford was willing to deal with one question that would be covered by security issues – the money and 11 candidates – but she refused to answer other questions that could be answered without violating national security laws or regulations.
Her appearance was self-serving at best for the government, it was frustrating for the viewing public and brings us no closer to understanding what has happened over the last few elections.
The Trudeau Liberals have said they don’t want a public inquiry but are also making it a necessity for anyone who wants real answers to what happened.
Y'know what would make Canada cool? If y'all had a rapporteur who actually rapped!
Yo.
Yo.
As long as the answers from the Rapporteur were actual Rapped Answers and not non-Answers…. I’d be all for it!!! It would beat the Hell out of this:
I am starting to believe Trudeau knew nothing of any reports or briefings about China and elections . He is not a serious person and spends the majority of his time on his jet plane away from Ottawa . How can he have time for such trivial matters as affairs of state .
Rex Murphy: Chinese interference imbroglio all circles back to Trudeau — National Post
Intertwined controversies all intersect with the Liberals' handling of the original reports of electoral meddling
Conservatives call on tax authorities to investigate Trudeau Foundation over Chinese donation — National Post
The foundation invited the Auditor General of Canada to examine their decision to accept the controversial pledge
After Liberal MPs wasted days to save her from a Commons committee appearance, Justin Trudeau’s office brain finally showed up Friday for a much-anticipated inquisition over foreign interference in Canadian elections.
It was a spectacular fizzle in terms of fresh revelations, which is precisely how Trudeau chief of staff Katie Telford wanted it as she set out to smother her testimony with a national security blanket.
The setup for this appearance before a Commons committee, which is stacked in equal measure with Conservative pitbulls and Liberal poodles, was ingenious. Coronations take less choreography.
It started last month with a foot-dragging filibuster which ultimately failed to deliver a no-show pass for Telford. That was followed by the prime minister finally revealing he was indeed regularly briefed on interference allegations with her.
The Prime Minister’s Office then primed its media friends to brace for low expectations from Telford’s two-hour appearance and the national security adviser set the stage by releasing a list of briefings on the controversy she promised in early March but delivered just two HOURS before Telford took her seat.
Then the real choreography started. Liberal MPs on the committee, who need Telford’s support for cabinet or parliamentary promotions, filled their allocated time with drawn-out PMO-approved puffball questions while the Liberal chair ran interference to cut off the witness when questioning became uncomfortable.
The desired result was achieved: It was a Seinfeldian show mostly about nothing.
She ducked questions about the merits of an inquiry into foreign interference. She declined comment on reported secret memos from security sources and refused to say who received and read them. And she labelled Global stories on Chinese money flowing to candidates as inaccurate while refusing to reveal which part of the much longer story wasn’t true, thus casting doubt on all the facts.
The one thing Telford’s appearance proved beyond any doubt, as she hummed through can’t-say obfuscations and gagged over national security limitations, is that the only way to find the bottom in this dark rabbit hole of foreign interference is to order up some sort of inquiry for a closer look.
There’s just too much smoke not to have a fire somewhere inside the PMO or the Liberal Party of Canada.
Don Martin: Too much smoke not to have a fire somewhere inside the PMO or Liberal Party — CTV News
After Liberal MPs wasted days to save her from a Commons committee appearance, Justin Trudeau’s office brain finally showed up Friday for a much-anticipated inquisition over foreign interference in Canadian elections.
One glaring problem- these people being allowed to decline comment. I see that as admission of guilt.The way the Chinese interference story radiates outwards, and sprouts new branches and fresh shoots, is a tribute to political horticulture. From CSIS, to 11 unnamed electoral districts, to useless filibusters, absolute denial of a public inquiry, to the parlous choice of a former governor general to head an investigation, an MP’s resignation from the Liberal caucus, mass resignations from a foundation honouring the current PM’s father, confusing and contradictory accounts from the foundation or sources within it regarding those resignations: all of these intersect — which means join at a common point — with the Trudeau government’s handling of the original reports of interference.
Rex Murphy: Chinese interference imbroglio all circles back to Trudeau — National Post
Intertwined controversies all intersect with the Liberals' handling of the original reports of electoral meddling
Conservatives call on tax authorities to investigate Trudeau Foundation over Chinese donation — National Post
The foundation invited the Auditor General of Canada to examine their decision to accept the controversial pledge
After Liberal MPs wasted days to save her from a Commons committee appearance, Justin Trudeau’s office brain finally showed up Friday for a much-anticipated inquisition over foreign interference in Canadian elections.
It was a spectacular fizzle in terms of fresh revelations, which is precisely how Trudeau chief of staff Katie Telford wanted it as she set out to smother her testimony with a national security blanket.
The setup for this appearance before a Commons committee, which is stacked in equal measure with Conservative pitbulls and Liberal poodles, was ingenious. Coronations take less choreography.
It started last month with a foot-dragging filibuster which ultimately failed to deliver a no-show pass for Telford. That was followed by the prime minister finally revealing he was indeed regularly briefed on interference allegations with her.
The Prime Minister’s Office then primed its media friends to brace for low expectations from Telford’s two-hour appearance and the national security adviser set the stage by releasing a list of briefings on the controversy she promised in early March but delivered just two HOURS before Telford took her seat.
Then the real choreography started. Liberal MPs on the committee, who need Telford’s support for cabinet or parliamentary promotions, filled their allocated time with drawn-out PMO-approved puffball questions while the Liberal chair ran interference to cut off the witness when questioning became uncomfortable.
The desired result was achieved: It was a Seinfeldian show mostly about nothing.
She ducked questions about the merits of an inquiry into foreign interference. She declined comment on reported secret memos from security sources and refused to say who received and read them. And she labelled Global stories on Chinese money flowing to candidates as inaccurate while refusing to reveal which part of the much longer story wasn’t true, thus casting doubt on all the facts.
The one thing Telford’s appearance proved beyond any doubt, as she hummed through can’t-say obfuscations and gagged over national security limitations, is that the only way to find the bottom in this dark rabbit hole of foreign interference is to order up some sort of inquiry for a closer look.
There’s just too much smoke not to have a fire somewhere inside the PMO or the Liberal Party of Canada.
Don Martin: Too much smoke not to have a fire somewhere inside the PMO or Liberal Party — CTV News
After Liberal MPs wasted days to save her from a Commons committee appearance, Justin Trudeau’s office brain finally showed up Friday for a much-anticipated inquisition over foreign interference in Canadian elections.
Only Trudeau offering plan for open and transparent government | Liberal Party of Canada
MONTREAL – Canadians deserve an open, transparent government that will focus on their real priorities – economic growth that works for everyone, said the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, today. “As the Mike Duffy trial resumes tomorrow – and after a decade of Stephen Harper...
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Marc Garneau drops the mic, “I’m out Bitches!! Later Gators!!”
It showed that the Liberals are still playing political games on an issue that is undermining the confidence of Canadians in our ability to counter threats to our democracy by Beijing and other foreign powers.
Initially, the Liberals tried to prevent Telford — Trudeau’s chief of staff — from having to appear before the committee through one of the longest filibusters in the past decade.
While Trudeau eventually agreed to have Telford testify, the political games continued.
EDITORIAL: A partisan circus is not a public inquiry — Toronto Sun
The appearance by Katie Telford, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s most powerful adviser, before the parliamentary committee investigating alleged foreign interference in our elections demonstrated why an independent public inquiry is needed to address public concerns. It showed that the Liberals...