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Current Newsletter 01/08/26
Next newsletter release: 01/22/26
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UPCOMING WEBINARS
Webinar: Understanding the Foreign Interference Transparency and Accountability Act
Date: January 19, 2026 @ 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET
Speaker: Senator Yuen Pau Woo
What effect will the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act (FITAA) have on racialized groups and dissident voices in Canadian politics? FITAA, under consultation until February 2nd, is Ottawa's latest move in its campaign against foreign interference, which up to this point has largely served to silence and intimidate Chinese Canadians without grounds. Senator Yuen Pau Woo, co-founder of Canadians United Against Modern Exclusion, discusses how FITAA, despite lawmakers' best intentions, will unintentionally bolster the exclusion of particular groups in Canadian politics.
Until February 2nd, Canadians can voice their opposition to the act. See attached flyer for guidance.
Register HERE
Book Talk: China and the Global Economic Order
Date: January 22, 2026 @ 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET
Join CCF in discussion with Gregory T. Chin and Kevin P. Gallagher on their new publication China and the Global Economic Order, an analysis on how China's relationship with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group has changed drastically since the 1980s.
Kevin P. Gallagher is a Professor of Global Development Policy at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University and the Director of the Boston University Global Development Policy Center. He serves as the Lead Expert on Multilateral Development Bank Reform to the Brazilian Presidency of the G20.
Gregory T. Chin is an Associate Professor of Political Economy at York University, Canada, and a Senior Fellow of the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University, and of the Foreign Policy Institute at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, and an Associate of LSE IDEAS. He is Co-Director of the Emerging Global Governance Project at Global Policy journal online.
Register HERE
FEATURED
The Future of Canada-China Relations - A Lecture at the University of Victoria
January 22, 2025
Current MP and interim NDP leader Don Davies calls for Canada to re-establish an approach to China that breaks away from the existing, overwhelmingly anti-China stance that politicians and the media have adopted since 2017. Davies notes that present Canada-China relations are exceptionally frigid compared even to the US and those under the Harper government, and traces this back to the 2018 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wan Zhou and leaked allegations of foreign interference in the 2019 federal election. Davies argues that this position has put Canada at a disadvantage politically and economically. Davies describes opportunities and methods to re-establish regular and productive relations with China and possible benefits of doing so, including lessening dependence on the US as a trading partner.
Senator Yuen Pau Woo presents: The Dangers of Modern Exclusion
August 26, 2025
Canadians United Against Modern Exclusion (WWW.CUAME.CA) was created this June as a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization to work with all Canadians whose rights and freedoms have been compromised because of national security overreach, foreign interference hysteria, and fear of the ‘other’. Senator Yuen Pau Woo will speak on why the need for such an organization and the CUAME program for the immediate future.
Resisting Pacific War Preparations: Talisman Sabre
July 30, 2025
IPAN (Independent and Peaceful Australia Network) and the Pacific Peace Network are leading opposition to US-Led military war exercises, code-named Talisman Sabre, that began on July 14 and will continue for over two weeks. Over 35,000 military personnel from 19 countries, including Canada, are carrying out war preparations on the ground, air, sea, and in cyberspace.
Join IPAN representative Annette Brownlie and others from the Pacific Peace Network to discuss resistance to the war preparations and the fight for a nuclear-free, peaceful, and sustainable Pacific. Moderated by Midori Ogasawara, University of Victoria.
100% Tariffs on China’s EVs: Is this Canada’s "Just Transition"?
Sept 19, 2024
Background Information:
The Liberal government recently imposed a 100 percent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles. What‘s at stake in this move? Is this simply another attempt to cozy up to America’s new cold war against China? Is it an attempt to gain support from autoworkers in the leadup to the next federal election? EVs may not be the only answer to the climate catastrophe we face today, but are they part of the solution?
Featured Speakers:
Sam Gindin, Elizabeth May, Gobind Dhugee
Moderated by Bianca Mugyenyi
Co-sponsored with the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute.
Understanding Bill C-70: Beyond a National Security State
Sept 12, 2024
Background Information:
C-70 is an omnibus bill, amending the Canadian Security Intelligence Act, the Security of Information Act, the Criminal Code, the Canadian Evidence Act, and introducing a new act, the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act.
Rights groups warn this bill is likely to erode civil liberties and human rights. Passed with minimal scrutiny, Bill C-70 amends key security and criminal laws, threatening fundamental freedoms, including free speech, assembly, and privacy, and could be used for profiling based on politics, race, religion, or nationality.
Featured Speakers:
Yuen Pau Woo, Midori Ogasawara, Tim McSorley, John Price
Moderated by Bianca Mugyenyi
Hosted by Canada-China Focus & Co-sponsored with the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute.
SUBMISSIONS
“Canada-China Focus, a project at the Centre for Global Studies, University of Victoria, takes issue with the fearmongering and demonization taking place regarding the awarding of a BC Ferry contract to Weihai shipyards.
As a project based in BC and Canada, we agree with the BC Ferry and Marine Workers' Union statement that it would be preferable to have new ferries built in BC or Canada. The Spirit-class ferries, built in British Columbia, well-crafted and reliable, remain centrepieces of the fleet. From the information available, however, BC shipyards are no longer prepared to build such large vessels.”
“Late last month, the Canadian government announced that it would be imposing a 100 percent tariff on electric vehicles (EVs) imported from China beginning October 1st .
Given the potential ramifications of this decision, Canada-China Focus asks labour, environmental, peace and policy groups to work with us to appropriately address trade issues in Canada-China relations. Please consider the following:
Is there an economic justification for the 100% tariff?”
Submissions to the Public Interference Inquiry
See below two submissions to the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference by CCF advisory members Dr. John Price and Dr. Tim Stanley. Note that these submissions reflect the work and thoughts of the author alone and do not necessarily represent the views of CCF.
by John Price, Professor Emeritus, University of Victoria.
April 15, 2024
by Timothy J. Stanley, Professor Emeritus, University of Ottawa
July 29, 2024
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