Every year, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute names the person or institution that has had
the greatest impact—for good or ill-- on Canadian public policy as Canada’s Policy-Maker
of the Year.
2019 was not defined by a Canadian political leader.
In fact, as Charles Burton explains in our Policy-Maker of the Year cover story, the
figure who has most influenced Canadian public policy is not even Canadian.
We had to announce, to our great regret, that the Policy-Maker of the Year is Chinese Communist
Party General-Secretary, Xi Jinping.
Though his influence and his impact on public policy is hardly in the best interests of
Canadians, few can deny that Xi Jinping has forced more policy responses on Canada than
anyone else.
Take for instance China’s response to the lawful detainment of Huawei CFO Meng Wenzhou
on a US extradition request.
Beijing’s response was aggressive, grossly disproportionate, and unlawful.
Perhaps most notably, China engaged in hostage-diplomacy by effectively kidnapping Canadians Michael
Kovrig and Michael Spavor and re-sentencing convicted Canadian Robert Schellenberg to
death on drug charges.
Furthermore China has also applied unjustified non-tariff barriers to Canadian agricultural
exports like canola and pork.
To their shame, Canadian business leaders and retired politicians have sung from Beijing
song sheet, advocating for Canada to abandon the rule of law and return Ms. Meng to China.
Indeed, China’s “sharp power” influence over Canadian society has paralysed much of
our political class.
These pressure tactics seem to have made Ottawa falter; our government has yet to take a firm
stance for Canadian interests in the face of this illegitimate campaign of vulgar bullying.
As Burton explains, Xi’s China has also managed to silence our self-described “progressive”
government despite mounting evidence of egregious human rights abuses on a vast scale, including
the mass internment and cultural genocide of Muslim Uyghurs and Kazakhs, the repression
of Tibetans, the regime’s brutal crackdown in Hong Kong, and more.
Xi’s power in Canada has often been subtle and indirect, exemplified by just such silence
when, in other contexts, one would have expected a loud and vigorous Canadian policy response.
When Ottawa’s normally yappy “policy dog” does not bark in response to Chinese provocation,
it is usually because Xi has silenced it with a treat or, more likely, a crude threat.
From Chinese Communist Party United Front work with the diaspora community to deep-seated
economic entanglement, and much much more, Xi has been able to weave a web of influence
over Canadian politics, public policy, and society.
It is remarkable how China has been able to reach deep into Canadian society with little
in the way of push back from our policy makers and the general public.
Perhaps the greatest threat of influence from Xi’s China is the unresolved question of
Huawei.
If the Chinese telecom giant is permitted to supply the equipment for Canada’s 5G
network, it could be Xi’s greatest achievement in shaping Canada’s international and domestic
policy, including our relationship with the United States and other allies and the security
and privacy of our citizens.
The fact that our government has yet to ban Huawei from 5G is indicative of the kind of
influence Xi has over our own sovereign decision making.
While it is not too late for Canada to stiffen its backbone and seize back the initiative
on these important policy questions, the clock is ticking.
Unless Ottawa does a significant about face on our national approach to China soon, it
is likely that Xi Jinping will be Canadian Policy-Maker of the Year for many years to
come.
To learn more about our choice for 2019 Policy-Maker of the Year, read the full issue of our latest
Inside Policy magazine by clicking on the link below.
I’m Brian Lee Crowley for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.