If the NDP sides with the Liberals in perpetuating the cover-up of China’s foreign influence attempts, faith in our democratic institutions will be massively damaged.
On Tuesday, March 21st, 2023, we will witness a decisive moment for Canadian democracy.
The Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois will vote in favour of a motion calling on the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff to testify on what the government knew about election interference and when they knew it.
The Liberals will vote against it, continuing their desperate attempts to stop the testimony from going forward.
Whether it passes or not, and whether or not Canadians begin to get some answers, will be decided by the NDP.
Last week, the NDP seemed eager to hear Katie Telford’s testimony, but they now appear to be wavering:
“Just last week, NDP Whip Rachel Blaney publicly said that it is “imperative” that Katie Telford testify about election interference. The Libs then filibustered for 24 hours. And now they are being noncommittal.
The NDP have a choice – cover up for Trudeau or demand the truth.”
Just last week, NDP Whip Rachel Blaney publicly said that it is "imperative" that Katie Telford testify about election interference. The Libs then filibustered for 24 hours. And now they are being noncommittal.
The NDP have a choice – cover up for Trudeau or demand the truth. pic.twitter.com/0GuU4R5UDf
— Ben Woodfinden (@BenWoodfinden) March 20, 2023
Make no mistake, this will be a decisive moment for Canadian democracy and our cherished democratic institutions. The Liberals are so desperate to defeat the motion that they are considering making it a confidence vote – risking their own government in the process. That tells you all you need to know about how desperate they are.
Imagine what will happen if the NDP sides with the Liberals and the motion is defeated:
The Liberals will feel completely emboldened in their attempts to cover-up China’s interference. They will know that the NDP will side with them at the end of the day, no matter how much Jagmeet Singh pretends to be ‘concerned.’
The Liberals will have rendered the Opposition largely powerless, as they will have a de facto majority – a majority made all the more undemocratic because Canadians purposely denied it to the Liberals in the last two elections.
And most dangerous of all, those who are doing the bidding of Communist China will feel that the tide is turning back in their favour, as they watch the government reject overwhelming public opinion and outrage by blocking a closer look at China’s foreign interference.
Whistleblowers within the government will feel even more isolated, and many may choose not to come forward as they watch the system do everything possible to deny accountability and stop the truth from being known.
That will send a message to China and to other ruthless authoritarian regimes that Canada is a wide open target for their foreign influence attempts.
And all of this will be happening as the Liberals continue to erode our freedom of speech and freedom of expression with legislation like Bill C-11 and C-18, dramatically expanding the power of the government to decide what kind of content Canadians can consume.
There is truly an immense amount at stake tomorrow, and we all have to be prepared for a renewed and long-term fight for Canadian democracy and for our rights and freedoms.
Spencer Fernando
