The Left Needs to Look In the Mirror, Not Across the Ocean

Vancouver’s Mayor Ken Sim was not elected by the Government of China.

Before I go further, let me be very clear. I worked tirelessly for Ken Sim’s opponent, Kennedy Stewart, in Vancouver’s October 22^nd municipal election. Kennedy Stewart shares many of my political views. Ken Sim, on the other hand, shares very few.

What Vancouver’s Left must recognize and admit is the fact that Ken Sim and his ABC party simply outworked us.

Recent media reports insinuating that Mayor Sim owed his election to the Chinese Communist Party’s government interference are outlandish. He won by one of the largest margins in Vancouver’s election history – over 37,000 votes. The election was not a squeaker where it might be argued that outside interference tipped the balance one way or another.

Over the past number of years, there have been extensive investigations into actions taken by the Chinese government to influence Canadian politics. Recent media reports have documented in some detail the Party’s efforts to influence the 2019 federal election, and questions have arisen about its attempted interference in the 2021 election.

It should also be noted that Russia and Iran, among other countries, have been implicated in trying to influence Canadian politics.

I am not defending for one moment the government of China’s interference in Canadian politics. It is completely unacceptable and must be prevented at all costs. I am simply taking issue with the fact that the media are implying that the Chinese Government was responsible for the outcome of our recent municipal election.

The Canadian government must immediately implement all steps necessary to prevent any future foreign interference in our elections.

The Canadian government must also immediately apologize for the numerous occasions it has interfered in the politics of other nations, including its involvement in the 2004 Haitian coup d’état which replaced the democratically elected president of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

In 2003, the Canadian government had hosted the Ottawa Initiative on Haiti conference at Meech Lake, Quebec to decide on the future of Haiti’s government. This gathering was attended by Canadian, U.S., French, and Latin American officials. No representatives of the Haitian government were invited. Canada remained involved in preparations for the coup.

The media insinuations are wrong. Ken Sim won the 2022 Vancouver municipal election fair and square.

 

Daily atmospheric CO₂ [Courtesy of CO2.Earth]

Latest daily total (Mar 19, 2023): 420.62ppm

One year ago (Mar 19, 2022): 418.11ppm