What country is considered a more serious threat to Canada than Russia or North Korea? A poll of Canadians say China tops that list, said Blacklock’s Reporter..“A clear majority, 58%, see China as the biggest threat to Canada,” said a report Attitudes To The Canadian Security Intelligence Service. “It is followed distantly by Russia (18%), North Korea (10%) and Syria (4%).”.“Respondents were asked whether they were more concerned about espionage against classified government information or about economic espionage against Canadian companies,” wrote researchers. “Results reveal somewhat mixed views. Fifty-per cent feel espionage against Canadian companies is more of a concern.”.Findings were based on a phone survey with 1,204 people nationwide. The Security Intelligence Service paid $61,194 for the questionnaire by Ekos Research Associates..The finding follows May 3 testimony at the Commons Special Committee on Canada-China Relations that MPs must be wide awake to subterfuge by Chinese agents in Canada. “They are very subtle, these activities,” testified Richard Fadden, retired director of the Intelligence Service. “There is no smoking gun.”.“The great difficulty we have in Canada is the general public has trouble understanding that we’re threatened,” said Fadden. “We feel very comfortable here in North America.”.“We have three oceans, we have a border with the United States,” said Fadden. “Sometimes you have to face a crisis before you truly understand there is a problem.”.Fadden said Canadians should beware of Communist Party activities from industrial espionage to influence of legislators. “It’s global,” he said. “They’re after us, if I can use the vernacular, from a whole variety of perspectives. And they’re after us in a negative sort of way.”.David Mulroney, Canadian ambassador to China from 2009 to 2012, earlier testified Canadians were naïve to think “China is our friend.” Mulroney told a 2020 hearing that “dangerous myopia about China” could be found in federal agencies..“It’s not clear the government has completely given up the fiction that China is our friend,” testified Mulroney. “Nor has it consistently summoned the courage to speak and act with integrity. Powerfully-placed Canadians continue to argue that if we appease China just one more time, all will be well..“Something is wrong here and it has to change,” said Mulroney..“People need to remember the ultimate objective of foreign policy is not to flatter, not to obscure inconvenient truths, but to advance and protect Canadian interests and values.”.Mike D’Amour is the British Columbia Bureau Chief for the Western Standard..,.mdamour@westernstandardonline.com
