GD's Political Animal: March 2026

Monday, March 30, 2026

Reports of forced labor in China hearsay, Liberal MP Ma suggests

Floor-crossing Liberal MP Michael Ma has cast doubt on reports of forced labor in China, suggesting they are based on hearsay.

Liberal MP Michael Ma downplays reports on China using forced labour | Toronto Sun | Lorrie Goldstein:

March 26, 2026 - "Liberal floor-crosser Michael Ma downplayed well-established reports of forced labour in China’s Xinjiang region on Thursday in an apparent attempt to discredit an expert witness on the topic at a House of Commons industry committee meeting. Ma launched a series of rapid-fire questions at Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa and recognized as one of Canada’s preeminent commentators on Canada-China relations, who was testifying at the committee.

“'Have you witnessed forced labour in Xinjiang? Have you witnessed forced labour? Just a short answer — have you witnessed forced labour in Xinjiang, yes or no?' Ma demanded.... McCuaig-Johnston was clearly taken aback by Ma’s aggressive questioning as she testified that China uses slave labour from its minority Uyghur population in Xinjiang province in the production of Chinese-made vehicles.

"Ma asked her if she was relying on 'hearsay' in giving her testimony, prompting angry responses from Conservative MPs on the committee who accused him of ignoring numerous expert reports on forced labour and other human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Ma countered that he was asking legitimate questions and not expressing any opinion on Chinese labour practices. Asked later by a CBC reporter whether he believed there was forced labour in China, Ma said it goes on all over the world, but without citing China when he was asked about that specifically....

"Ma was elected as a Conservative in the riding of Markham—Unionville in the April 2025 federal election before crossing the floor to the Liberals in December. He accompanied Prime Minister Mark Carney on his trip to China in January to forge a 'new strategic partnership' with China. The Commons industry committee is examining Carney’s deal that eliminated Ottawa’s 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles and initially allow up to 49,000 Chinese-made EVs into the Canadian market, with a “most-favoured-nation” tariff rate of 6.1%....

"UPDATE: Ma later apologized for his remarks, saying he 'inadvertently came across as dismissive of the serious issue of forced labour.' He said he was talking about the Chinese city of Shenzhen, not Xinjiang province, where China has been widely accused of using its minority Uyghur population as forced labour."

China forced labour 'hearsay,' Liberal MP suggests | Canadian Press | March 26, 2026:

Chinese Media Amplify MP Michael Ma’s Dismissal of CCP’s Forced Labour | Epoch Times | Olivia Gomm:

March 27, 2026 - "Media in China are promoting Liberal MP Michael Ma’s skepticism about the existence of forced labour in China following an exchange with a China expert at a parliamentary committee meeting this week.... Chinese media outlet Guancha published an article on March 27 about Ma’s remarks, saying 'Canadian scholars hype "forced labour"' in the article’s headline. The article, which was widely cross-published on multiple Chinese-language platforms, said McCuaig-Johnston’s response to Ma 'caused an uproar'....

"Ma asked McCuaig-Johnston: “Your claim about forced labour in Shenzhen — have you witnessed this yourself? Have you been there ever?'... Responding to Ma’s questioning, McCuaig-Johnston said she has been to China 'many times' over nearly 50 years. Ma cut her response short and asked again whether she has witnessed the forced labour herself, to which she responded that she works 'closely with Human Rights Watch where researchers did witness it'.... The Guancha article said McCuaig-Johnston 'euphemistically admitted that she has not personally witnessed the so-called "forced labor" and is indeed hearsay.' It also said accusations of forced labour in China 'have always been absurd lies' that are 'based on ideological bias” and have been used to “smear China.”

"Conservative MP and industry critic Raquel Dancho ... commented on the Chinese media report, saying that whatever Ma’s intentions were, 'his questions parroted implicitly the CCP-certified position—that controversy around forced labour is manufactured.' 'Chinese state media used those questions to push their propaganda,' Dancho said in a post on X. 'Despite his excuse, this was the outcome'....

"Canada sanctioned Chinese officials in December 2024 for persecuting Uyghurs, Falun Gong practitioners, and Tibetans, noting that these groups are subject to various forms of suppression by the Chinese regime, including arbitrary detention and forced labour. The House of Commons voted unanimously in favour of a motion tabled by the Conservatives in February 2021 that declared Beijing’s persecution against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in China a genocide. All opposition MPs and non-cabinet Liberal MPs supported the motion, while cabinet abstained from the vote."

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

War as the enemy of liberty

War allows governments to increase spending, taxes, and regulations in order to feed the war machine. War also enables the government to violate personal liberty. Wars can justify measures that remain in place long after the wars end.

War Abroad and Authoritarianism at Home | Ron Paul Institute } Ron Paul:

March 23, 2026 - “'War is the health of the state.' That phrase, coined by Randolph Bourne, explains why opposition to war is a priority of many libertarians. War allows governments to increase spending, taxes, and regulations in order to feed the war machine. Wars can justify measures that remain in place long after the wars end. An example of this is income tax withholding that was created to fund World War Two.

"The use of war as a justification for increased interference in the market is reason enough for libertarians to oppose war. However, war also enables the government to violate liberty. During the Civil War, President Lincoln suspended habeas corpus, shut down newspapers, and instituted a military draft. The draft was also used in World Wars One and Two, as well as Korea and Vietnam. During World War One, Congress passed the Sedition Act, outlawing criticism of the government. Widespread violations of liberty are a hallmark of the ongoing 'war on terror.' An infamous example of war being used to justify violations of liberty is the internment of Japanese Americans during World War Two.

"Given this history, it is not surprising that the Iran War may lead to crackdowns on free speech. Following criticisms of the media’s coverage of the Iran War by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr made a post on Twitter telling broadcast networks that the FCC has the power to revoke their broadcast licenses if they do not fulfill their responsibility to act in the 'public interest.' This was clearly a threat to revoke the license of any broadcast network whose coverage of the war displeases the Trump administration.

"Threatening to use the FCC’s power to shut down broadcast networks that the president dislikes is a blatant violation of the First Amendment by Chairman Carr. Chairman Carr may think that he can get a court to approve revoking a broadcaster’s license for its war coverage by claiming it is endangering national security. This would hardly be the first time the government used national security as an excuse to censor its critics.

"Since the US is waging the Iran War in collaboration with Israel and the Trump Administration supports defining criticism of Israel as antisemitism, it is not out of the realm of possibility that opposition to the war will be labeled as antisemitic hate speech and be banned.

"Thousands of American troops are being deployed to the Middle East. With no end to the war in sight and the US military taking on the task of ensuring oil tankers have safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the US military may soon need a major increase in troops. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has refused to rule out the possibility that President Trump may reinstate the draft.

"The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) makes implementing the draft easer then ever by automatically registering every 18-year-old man with the Selective Service. The draft assumes rights are gifts from government that can be revoked at the whim of government officials. Violations of liberty come along with wars. Therefore, opposition to wars unrelated to the legitimate security needs of the country must be a priority for all who value liberty."

Copyright © 2026 The Ron Paul Institute. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit and a live link are given.
https://ronpaulinstitute.org/war-abroad-and-authoritarianism-at-home/

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

US goes to war with Iran

Stuck in Another Disastrous Middle East War | Ron Paul Institute | Ron Paul:

March 2, 2026 - "Unfortunately, President Trump listened to the neocons and Benjamin Netanyahu instead of his MAGA base and other voices of caution as he launched a surprise attack on Iran over the weekend. For the second time in nine months, the US Administration used negotiations ... as a cover to launch a pre-planned attack.

"Last week’s talks produced 'progress' according to all sides, with technical teams set to meet this week to work out the details. President Trump, however, suddenly announced that he was not happy with the talks because the Iranian side refused to say 'the magic words' that they would not pursue nuclear weapons. But Iran has been insisting for decades that they have no interest in producing a nuclear weapon and our own intelligence has confirmed that they are not doing so.

"Shortly after President Trump’s announcement, the US and Israel launched their attack, killing Iran’s religious leader along with some 40 other political and military leaders in a 'decapitation' strike.

"It was supposed to be like the Venezuela operation. Quick and painless for the US. Kill the leadership and the long-suffering people would take to the streets and reclaim their country. It may make a good plot for a Hollywood movie, but in real life these regime change operations have never worked. Millions did take to the streets in Iran, but it was to mourn the slain Ayatollah and to reaffirm support for their government.

"Just like we 'rallied around the flag' after the attacks on 9/11.

"Quickly, Iranian retaliation for the attacks began to take their toll on US assets and Israel. US soldiers have been killed and US fighter jets have been shot down. US bases in the region are either damaged or destroyed. Likewise, US embassies and consulates have come under attack, including by Iraqis likely still furious over the US destruction of their country 20 years ago. And, with the Pentagon warning that the operation may go weeks instead of days, we are quickly running out of missiles.

"Billions of dollars have already been spent on this unprovoked attack, and when the smoke clears – if it does – we may see hundreds of billions or maybe much more having been wasted on yet another Middle East war. Just what President Trump promised he would not do.

"The neocon 'cakewalk' crowd, including (Senator) Lindsey Graham and others, have been proven wrong again. Tragically, more American servicemembers may die while the neocons blame someone else for the fiasco they helped launch.

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said of the US/Israeli attack that 'this combination of forces enables us to do what I have longed to do for 40 years…' But the purpose of the US military is not to fulfill the decades-old wishes of foreign leaders. There is a good reason we have a Constitution that says only Congress can declare war.

"Launching a military strike during negotiations will have lasting negative effects for the United States. Who would ever trust US diplomacy again if talks are used as a distraction for pre-planned attacks?

"The Administration is doing its best to spin this unfolding disaster as all going according to plan, but what is the plan? No one knows. Do they know?

"Here’s a plan: End this today. Return the destroyed US bases to the countries where they are located. And just come home. That is what a real 'America first' movement looks like."

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

BC man ordered to pay $760K for online posts

Former Chilliwack, British Columbia, school trustee Barry Neufeld, one of the loudest online critics of the provincial government's sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) guidelines, has been ordered by the BC Human rights Tribunal to pay $750,000 in damages to the school board's 2SLGBTQ+ teachers, plus $10,000 in punitive damages.

Former B.C. school trustee ordered to pay $750K for hate speech, discrimination: human rights tribunal | CBC News | Lauren Vanderdeen: ·

February 20, 2026 - "The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ordered former Chilliwack school trustee Barry Neufeld to pay $750,000 for violating the Human Rights Code by publishing hate speech and discriminatory content against 2SLGBTQ+ people.... Neufeld was one of the 'loudest critics' against the B.C. government's move in 2017 directing school boards to update codes of conduct to address bullying based on "SOGI,' or sexual orientation and gender identity, according to the tribunal’s decision.... Neufeld did not respond to CBC News's request for comment by publication deadline....

"Neufeld's publications included Facebook posts, a speech at a gathering, a widely-circulated email, and comments at a school board meeting and in the media. The tribunal found six of his publications were likely to expose trans, gay and lesbian people to hatred or contempt based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.... More than 20 of Neufeld's publications indicated discrimination or an intention to discriminate against 2SLGBTQ+ people in the Chilliwack School District....

"The BCTF and Chilliwack Teachers' Association sought an award of $750,000 in compensation to teachers' association members who identify as LGBTQ between October 2017 through 2022 for injury to their dignity, feelings and self-respect. The tribunal agreed with the award, saying Neufeld 'poisoned' the workplace with anti-2SLGBTQ+ discrimination. The tribunal said the $750,000 will result in individual awards between around $4,600 to $16,667 per class member, according to the decision. It noted the purpose of the award is to compensate for the harms of discrimination rather than be punitive....

"A second decision from the tribunal, also released Wednesday, ordered Neufeld to pay $10,000 in punitive costs for improper conduct during the complaint. The tribunal said Neufeld 'repeatedly and flagrantly demonstrated his disregard for the Human Rights Tribunal and its process' and deliberately violated the tribunal's rules and orders. The tribunal said he 'surreptitiously' recorded a pre-hearing conference call and posted the recording on YouTube and published privileged information about settlement discussions."

Man FINED $750K for Saying There are 2 Genders SPEAKS OUT | Barry Neufeld | The Bridgehead | February 24, 2026:

Lisa Bildy: Human rights rules on gender ideology are just blasphemy laws | National Post | Lisa Bildy:

Feb 26, 2026 - "Oppressively enforced beliefs are back. But those beliefs don’t emanate from pulpits. It’s no longer Christianity demanding adherence to beliefs, but the secular religion of social justice. Neufeld learned the hard way that gender identity is now an unquestionable tenet of this new faith. Human rights tribunals are its enforcers under the guise of punishing 'discrimination.' The curriculum he criticized, introduced in 2016, roughly coincided with 'gender identity' becoming a protected class under human rights codes across Canada.

"In 2006, publisher Ezra Levant faced a discrimination complaint for reprinting the Danish cartoons of Mohammed. He and Mark Steyn, who faced similar complaints for commentary on Islam published in Maclean’s magazine, drew attention to tribunal overreach, leading to the repeal of section 13 of the Canada Human Rights Act, which had empowered the tribunal to punish 'hate speech'....

"[T]he federal Online Harms Bill, introduced by the previous Liberal government and floated again by the current government ... proposes to restore those hate speech enforcement powers to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.... But that’s obviously already happening, at least in British Columbia. In an interim decision in Neufeld’s case, B.C.’s Human Rights Tribunal decided that, although previous decisions of the tribunal had found otherwise, it actually does have the power to regulate online posts under its existing legislation....

"This case expands limits on freedom of expression in two significant ways.

First, disparaging gender ideology — even when targeting ideas, not people — was found to be discriminatory. B.C.’s human rights commissioner argued that’s the way it should be.... Mark Steyn avoided punishment for his commentary on Islam, also litigated in B.C., because it was considered political commentary within the bounds of free expression. Today’s human rights functionaries won’t abide such limits on their power.
Second, the expanded interpretation was applied to an elected trustee, whose role is to challenge policies and raise concerns about educational changes. Bureaucrats now dictate what elected officials can say on public policy matters....

"The $750,000 fine against Neufeld is unprecedented in the human rights context. While framed as compensation for “harm” to LGBTQ teachers, it was clearly intended to financially ruin him for his speech and refusal to embrace gender identity. It also serves as a warning to anyone considering criticism of the new faith. Blasphemy laws are back.

"Public outrage is growing, and politicians are being pressured to act. Reining in these star chambers is no longer good enough. Legislatures must abolish them, along with the human rights codes that they enforce. That requires political backbone, so don’t hold your breath. Instead, call, write, or sign a petition like ours at the Free Speech Union to let your political leaders know how many Canadians oppose financial ruin for expressing opinions on issues affecting themselves and their children."

Lisa Bildy is a lawyer and executive director of the Free Speech Union of Canada. She can be found on X at @LDBildy.

Pages