By focusing solely on China or Russia and other state actors, Canada is missing the potentially far more troubling forces that proved so disruptive during last year’s convoy protest, Susan Delacourt writes.
Important read about hostile foreign influence/meddling in Canada’s political system.
The US is always the big elephant in the room in Canadian political debate.
I remember when that “cablegate” thing happened where US diplomatic cables were leaked over a decade ago. As a Canadian, I looked up the cables pertaining to Canada.
In those leaks the US ambassador remarked how it’s very odd that the US is never really discussed in Canadian politics. It’s like we pretend it doesn’t exist.
And he’s right. We generally feel like talking about the US isn’t appropriate for some reason. Maybe the US is so omnipresent in Canada we don’t feel like it’s necessary? Or maybe we’re ashamed to admit it.
I mean if 90% of newspapers were owned by a Chinese company, wouldn’t that be something concerning to Canadians? But 90% of newspapers being owned by a US corporation… that’s just expected. It’s considered to be normal.
If Chinese money was flowing to a protest group occupying Ottawa, we’d all flip shit. But US money flowing to a protest group… that’s just expected. It’s normal.
But should we consider these things to be normal? That convoy thing indicated to me that Americans don’t care if bad things happen in Canada. It’s good for ratings.
I think we should be wary of US owned media. Also should note that the article linked to above is in what may soon be the next newspaper to be transferred to US ownership.
The US is always the big elephant in the room in Canadian political debate.
I remember when that “cablegate” thing happened where US diplomatic cables were leaked over a decade ago. As a Canadian, I looked up the cables pertaining to Canada.
In those leaks the US ambassador remarked how it’s very odd that the US is never really discussed in Canadian politics. It’s like we pretend it doesn’t exist.
And he’s right. We generally feel like talking about the US isn’t appropriate for some reason. Maybe the US is so omnipresent in Canada we don’t feel like it’s necessary? Or maybe we’re ashamed to admit it.
I mean if 90% of newspapers were owned by a Chinese company, wouldn’t that be something concerning to Canadians? But 90% of newspapers being owned by a US corporation… that’s just expected. It’s considered to be normal.
If Chinese money was flowing to a protest group occupying Ottawa, we’d all flip shit. But US money flowing to a protest group… that’s just expected. It’s normal.
But should we consider these things to be normal? That convoy thing indicated to me that Americans don’t care if bad things happen in Canada. It’s good for ratings.
I think we should be wary of US owned media. Also should note that the article linked to above is in what may soon be the next newspaper to be transferred to US ownership.
The Competition Bureau should step in
Very well stated (imo)