Another Chinese Canadian organization in Toronto is facing internal backlash after it publicly took a stance favourable to Beijing.
CPACâs May 10 Chinese-language commentary, titled âChinese Canadians Are Capable of Making Their Own Decisions,â referred to the public discussions after the publication of the commissionâs report, and rejected the interpretation that interference by Beijing cost former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu his B.C. riding seat in the 2021 election. The riding was one of those noted by the commission as having experienced irregularities during the election. The commissionâs report said Mr. Chiu, along with then-Tory Leader Erin O’Tooleâboth of whom are outspoken critics of the Beijing regimeâwere targets of a misinformation campaign.
âAs Chinese people and Chinese organizations in Canada, we must be clear on this: Should we guard our new home after leaving our homeland and protect its democratic institutions, or should we help foreign forces to wreak havoc and make Canada a country that we have to flee again?â the May 14 op-ed read.
In an interview with The Epoch Times, the author of the op-ed, who provided his name only as Remington out of precaution, said CPAC shouldnât have written the May 10 commentary on behalf of all members.
âIn writing this commentary, [the author] could only represent the authorâs own personal views. The author cannot represent the entire association because the author did not conduct any surveys or gather any feedback within the association. The author didnât check whether everyone agreed to publish this article in the name of the association. The author essentially hijacked the 30,000 Chinese members to endorse the authorâs own viewpoint,â Mr. Remington, a civil engineer in Alberta, told The Epoch Times.
Another CPAC member, Jonathan Fon, said it was wrong for CPAC to publish a commentary with such a position.
He said many new Chinese immigrants to Canada initially get attracted to join CPAC because they can enjoy group benefits, such as lower insurance rates. He says it appears that CPAC leadership was attempting to form an outlet to voice certain positions aligned with Beijing, but that this attempt has now been a failure given the public backlash.
The Epoch Times reached out to CPAC and Mr. Shi for comment but didnât hear back.
âRejecting Pro-CCP Practicesâ
Beijing critic and democracy activist Sheng Xue, speaking to The Epoch Times, noted the trend of Chinese Canadians resisting misrepresentation by organizations adopting a pro-Beijing stance on behalf of their members. She said that as Canadian society becomes more vigilant and opposed to the interference and transnational repression of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), more individuals are now daring to speak up.
âIncreasing numbers of Chinese Canadians, especially the second generation, are unwilling to continue being subject to CCP interference and control. They are increasingly rejecting both the CCPâs manipulations and the pro-CCP practices within the Chinese community,â Ms. Sheng said.
Ms. Sheng highlighted frequent interactions between CPAC leadership and the Chinese Consulate in Toronto.
The Chinese Exclusion Act, which aimed to halt Chinese immigration to Canada, is commonly known by that name.
In a June 2023 event commemorating its anniversary, organizers not only celebrated but also encouraged opposition to the creation of a foreign agent registry in Canada. They framed this opposition as a stand against “anti-Chinese sentiment,” with community members urged to “stand up against racism and any form of racism,” as reported about Mr. Wang.
Despite reaching out to Mr. Wang for comment, The Epoch Times did not receive a response.
Similarly, in 2020, former CONCO executive chair Zhu Jiang faced criticism from four co-chairs after making pro-Beijing remarks on behalf of CONCO members, including attending an event in Markham, Ont., to oppose the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests.
The co-chairs withdrew from the group, citing damage to CONCO’s reputation caused by Mr. Zhu’s remarks and other contentious activities within the organization. Mr. Zhu rejected the criticism and filed a defamation lawsuit against the co-chairs. However, in a December 4, 2023 court ruling, Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice dismissed Mr. Zhu’s lawsuit, with the judge describing the defendants as “whistleblowers.”
CONCO, founded in 2011 by Geng Tan, a former Liberal MP, has aligned with Beijing on various issues, including the regime’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
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