Rapporteur David Johnson, Eminent Canadian

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
26,141
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Regina, Saskatchewan
A former Canadian politician is suspected of trying to influence Parliament’s work on behalf of a foreign government, according to documents released by the foreign interference commission Friday.

No identifying information about the parliamentarian — whether they were a senator or MP, or what party they belonged to — was included in the documents, nor was the country they were allegedly working for named.

That is all.
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
26,141
9,550
113
Regina, Saskatchewan
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OTTAWA, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday called an early election for Sept. 20, 2021 saying he needed a new mandate to ensure voters approved of his Liberal government's plan to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic...or to get ahead of the release of information with respect to foreign interference in the Canadian election process?

The election comes at a "pivotal, consequential moment" for Canada, Trudeau said.
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It was on Aug. 15, 2021, that Canadians were alerted by their leader to a “pivotal moment,” one that was “maybe the most important since 1945, and certainly in our lifetimes.” What were the elements that gave our leader grounds for declaring that out of all the moments we have had since the Second World War — of which there were many — this moment was the “most important”?
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Inquiry expected to hear from more than 60 witnesses over 5 weeks, including PM

How can the federal government prevent other countries from meddling in Canada's elections?

That will be the focus of the next phase of the public inquiry into foreign interference, which started its second round of hearings on Monday.

The inquiry is expected to hear from more than 70 witnesses over the next five weeks, including members of Parliament, cabinet ministers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The inquiry, headed by Quebec Court of Appeal Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, was set up in response to media reports accusing China of interfering in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
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The inquiry also has obtained access to the intelligence reports provided to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) that led to its bombshell report tabled in Parliament in June (new window).

In its 84-page report, the cross-party committee of MPs and senators alleged that some parliamentarians, whom it did not name, have wittingly or unwittingly helped foreign governments like China and India interfere in Canadian politics.
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…& here we are today.
 

Taxslave2

House Member
Aug 13, 2022
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Nothing is going to happen until there is a change in government. By then it will probably be too late to do anything to the guilty.
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
26,141
9,550
113
Regina, Saskatchewan
Just out of curiosity, what exactly is "election interference?"
That’s a good question! I’m just a guy trying to connect the dots on a break between projects on a Saturday morning, trying to stay ahead of the inevitable coming of winter, ‘cuz that’s gonna happen sooner than later.

You want examples (?) or some one size fits all definition?

Foreign Interference Offence – Generally anything, or omitting to do any covert or deceptive act for the benefit of a foreign entity, knowing that it would cause harm to Canadian interests. It would apply whether or not the underlying act is a criminal offence.
 
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Tecumsehsbones

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Shit. Sorry. I miss read the above sentence. The attempt at an answer might still actually fit though.
Just one follow-on. . . What the actual FUCK are "Canadian interests?" Is there a list?

No. . . here's another. If Donald Trump says "Canadians should vote for the Conservative Party. It will be easier for my empire. . . um. . . administration to work with," is that foreign interference? If a Canadian says that Trump said that, is that foreign interference? If the Tories run a TV ad saying "Donald Trump says the Conservative Party is easier for the Americans to work with," is that foreign interference?
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
26,141
9,550
113
Regina, Saskatchewan
No. . . here's another. If Donald Trump says "Canadians should vote for the Conservative Party. It will be easier for my empire. . . um. . . administration to work with," is that foreign interference? If a Canadian says that Trump said that, is that foreign interference? If the Tories run a TV ad saying "Donald Trump says the Conservative Party is easier for the Americans to work with," is that foreign interference?
If Donald Trump, on the QT, to keep it out of the public eye, has private meetings with Poilievre in a private residence in Canada, and those in attendance have to pay $1500/head to Poilievre for the privilege…& The Donald offers 1/4 million to Poilievre’s foundation (because it’s hands off from him while he’s in power), and promises to donate another 1/4 million to Poilievre’s university alumni (who will in turn donate to Poilievre’s war chest because of this), & erect a statue to Poilievre’s adoptive parents, etc…in consideration (“wink-wink”) for allowing Trump to open a bank in Canada without the delays or scrutiny of normal process, or the oversight afterwards…& that bank launders funds for Trump in Canada, & allows him to now launder funds for his buddies at that same bank in Canada, & some of those funds are used to set up private police stations in Canada to intimate & influence American Ex-Pats in Canada to now vote for things that will benefit Trump or his Buddies for a return on his investment initially to Poilievre….or maybe the whole above scenario above but reverse America for Canada & Trump for Poilievre in the rolls above…something like that?

That, depending on the roles involved, could be Canadian or American interests &/or foreign interference? Opinion?
 

Tecumsehsbones

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If Donald Trump, on the QT, to keep it out of the public eye, has private meetings with Poilievre in a private residence in Canada, and those in attendance have to pay $1500/head to Poilievre for the privilege…& The Donald offers 1/4 million to Poilievre’s foundation (because it’s hands off from him while he’s in power), and promises to donate another 1/4 million to Poilievre’s university alumni (who will in turn donate to Poilievre’s war chest because of this), & erect a statue to Poilievre’s adoptive parents, etc…in consideration (“wink-wink”) for allowing Trump to open a bank in Canada without the delays or scrutiny of normal process, or the oversight afterwards…& that bank launders funds for Trump in Canada, & allows him to now launder funds for his buddies at that same bank in Canada, & some of those funds are used to set up private police stations in Canada to intimate & influence American Ex-Pats in Canada to now vote for things that will benefit Trump or his Buddies for a return on his investment initially to Poilievre….or maybe the whole above scenario above but reverse America for Canada & Trump for Poilievre in the rolls above…something like that?

That, depending on the roles involved, could be Canadian or American interests &/or foreign interference? Opinion?
I'd need to read the statute.

In the U.S., it is illegal for any campaign to accept any money from non-U.S. persons or entities. It is perfectly legal for a candidate to accept such as personal gifts, or for a Political Action Committee to do so.

See, we talk a lot of shit about "foreign interference" too, but it's just political yelling in almost all cases, considering what little is actually illegal. There are also limits to what an individual can give to a campaign, which we get around anytime we feel like it by giving it to a PAC that is "aligned with" the campaign, but of course, "independent."
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
26,141
9,550
113
Regina, Saskatchewan
I'd need to read the statute.

In the U.S., it is illegal for any campaign to accept any money from non-U.S. persons or entities. It is perfectly legal for a candidate to accept such as personal gifts, or for a Political Action Committee to do so.

See, we talk a lot of shit about "foreign interference" too, but it's just political yelling in almost all cases, considering what little is actually illegal. There are also limits to what an individual can give to a campaign, which we get around anytime we feel like it by giving it to a PAC that is "aligned with" the campaign, but of course, "independent."
We’re sorting it out too, I guess, & the hypothetical scenario that I used isn’t/wasn’t that hypothetical.
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(Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the top draw at a $1,500 Liberal Party cash-for-access fundraiser at the mansion of a wealthy Chinese-Canadian business executive in May. One of the guests at the event was a well-heeled donor who was seeking Ottawa's final approval to begin operating a new bank aimed at Canada's Chinese community, etc…)
 
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Tecumsehsbones

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And now we're getting someplace close to my actual point. There are so many ways to funnel money to a candidate or her surrogates that the only effective way to keep political money "pure" is by a broad social consensus. But running a party or a country on hate makes such a consensus impossible. Hell, down here we're so high on hate that a mediocre candidate is running neck-and-neck with a convicted felon who has been found liable for cheating, lying, sexual assault, racial discrimination, and really bad makeup.
 

Taxslave2

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Aug 13, 2022
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And now we're getting someplace close to my actual point. There are so many ways to funnel money to a candidate or her surrogates that the only effective way to keep political money "pure" is by a broad social consensus. But running a party or a country on hate makes such a consensus impossible. Hell, down here we're so high on hate that a mediocre candidate is running neck-and-neck with a convicted felon who has been found liable for cheating, lying, sexual assault, racial discrimination, and really bad makeup.
When you think about it, what other kind would want the job?
 

Taxslave2

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Just one follow-on. . . What the actual FUCK are "Canadian interests?" Is there a list?
With respect to election interference, I think the main issue is countries like China getting control of our Natural Resources by owning politicians that would vote in China's interest, rather than Canadian taxpayer's interest. China and India, and possibly some other countries looking to export more of their citizens to Canada. I suppose the US as well with resources, but our economies are so integrated that it is hard to tell what is foreign interference and what is just business as usual.Canada is resource rich, so there could be other countries that would want us to cut exports of products they need to sell on the world market.
 
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