Is China Threatening Canada’s Democracy? | The Rundown

A few years ago, Ottawa was rocked by allegations that China interfered in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 federal elections. But a new book argues that Beijing’s efforts to influence Canadian politics stretch back much further. Dennis Molinaro, a former national security analyst and federal policy adviser, joins us to discuss his book "Under Assault: Interference and Espionage in China’s Secret War Against Canada" and what it reveals about the scope of foreign interference. At the same time, Prime Minister Mark Carney has signalled that Canada’s future involves closer ties with China. But is that the right path forward? Lynette Ong, distinguished professor of Chinese politics at the University of Toronto and director of the China Governance Lab at U of T’s Munk School of Global Affairs, helps us examine what deeper engagement with China could mean for Canada and the risks and realities policymakers must confront. 00:00 – Intro 00:16 – From Threat to Partner: What Changed? 00:41 – Trump’s Trade Wars Push Canada Toward China 00:55 – Why Canada–China Relations Soured After 2018 01:15 – A Much Longer History of Interference 01:35 – Are Western Leaders Re‑engaging China? 01:55 – Allegations of Election Interference in Canada 02:20 – Author Dennis Molinaro on China’s Long Game 02:52 – Foreign Interference vs. Legitimate Lobbying 04:22 – How Covert Influence Operations Work 05:01 – Beyond Elections: Academia, Trade, and IP 05:45 – Trade, EVs, and National Security Risks 07:33 – Why China Is Canada’s Primary Security Focus 08:53 – Have Canadian Governments Ignored the Warnings? 10:36 – Why the Risk Is Greater Now 11:22 – How Bad Could Foreign Interference Get? 12:16 – Why Diversifying Trade With China Is “A Losing Play” 13:17 – Should Canada Allow Chinese EVs? 15:27 – Why the U.S. Can Handle China Better Than Canada 16:43 – What Canada Should Do Next: Policy Fixes 18:16 – Is Closer Canada–China Trade the Right Path? 18:45 – A Pragmatic Case for Engaging China 19:54 – Is This Risk Management or a Pivot Away From the U.S.? 20:31 – Selling China Engagement to Canadians 21:59 – What Being “Firm” With China Looks Like 23:28 – Carney vs. Starmer: Two Very Different China Trips 24:48 – Critical Minerals and New Trade Blocs 26:01 – Can Middle Powers Lead Without the U.S.? 27:16 – Canada’s Moment on the World Stage About The Rundown: The Rundown is your nightly half-hour deep dive into just one headline. With host Jeyan Jeganathan, we’ll cover everything from housing and health care to climate and AI. We’ll break down why each topic matters, who’s living it, and what’s being done to make things better – starting right here in Ontario. Slow down. Tune in. Make sense of the moment. And tell us what you think.