Espionage or Globalism?

Agents of Influence

The Ottawa Citizen -- June 24, 2010

Canadians are shocked to hear that some of their elected representatives are acting as agents of foreign governments, but no one should be shocked that foreign governments are after Canadian secrets in the first place.

Canada is not much of a military power, so foreign governments are likely not snooping for blueprints of futuristic weapons. Canada is, however, an economic power, a major exporter and manufacturer. It is trade secrets that our global competitors desire. The Cold War may be over but espionage -- economic espionage -- is still very much a growth industry.

Richard Fadden, director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, revealed this week that a number of Canadian public officials are suspected to be working on behalf of foreign interests. At least two of the suspected "agents of influence" hold cabinet posts at the provincial level.

It's a sensational claim, to be sure. But as many security experts quickly noted, the source is impeccable: Richard Fadden himself. Fadden is an accomplished and respected public servant. His willingness to come out from the shadows, so to speak, and talk about foreign penetration of the political class, on the eve of Canada's hosting the G8 and G20 summits, suggests just how real a threat the security establishment deems this to be.

Fadden wasn't reckless. He didn't name names or identify the countries that have been poking around in our business. He didn't have to. China openly specializes in economic espionage, as Canadian companies such as aerospace giant Bombardier have discovered. There have been recent reports of Chinese technicians stealing secrets at one of Bombardier's Montreal plants, and of Bombardier negotiators being spied upon during trips to China.

While Fadden didn't name names, he did suggest that the problem of foreign influence is particularly conspicuous in British Columbia. The province is part of the Pacific Rim and is the Canadian epicentre of Asian immigration. As the University of Victoria political scientist Norman Ruff told the Canadian Press, "There are influences on public policy in British Columbia both on the local and provincial level which aren't solely in the interests of British Columbians."

Although communist China tops Canada's list of countries targeting us for economic espionage, democratic countries and even allies will spy on each other. In the 1990s, some business travellers stopped flying on Air France following reports French intelligence officers were bugging airline seats. Japan has been accused of recruiting technology workers to penetrate U.S.-based tech firms.

It might even be that, in some quarters, economic espionage is viewed simply as a form of government assistance to domestic businesses. In one reported case, a French and American firm were competing for a billion-dollar contract with the Indian government. The French government surreptitiously obtained information about the American bid and passed it on to the French firm, which then won the contract.

The danger of Fadden's warning is that it might be used, not by CSIS but others, as an argument against multiculturalism and immigration. That would be a mistake. Canada's diversity is a source of national strength, and has produced far more benefits, economic and otherwise, than costs.

Canada is right to welcome talent wherever it can be found. The integration of new and recent Canadians into the highest ranks of economic and political life is what makes us a successful country. Unfortunately, in a few instances, that integration might not be as thorough as was hoped.

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