Diaspora groups want to see Carney-China MoU

Chinese diaspora groups are expressing concerns about the Carney Government's confidential memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Communisyt China on security and law enforcement, and asking for it to be made public to calm fears in their communities. . 

Hong Kong Democracy Groups Express Concern About Canada’s Police Cooperation Agreement With China | Epoch Times | Olivia Gomm:

February 13, 2027 - "Ten Hong Kong democracy activist groups are voicing concern about Ottawa’s new deal with Beijing on law enforcement cooperation, saying the federal government’s lack of transparency on the agreement has intensified the fears of Hong Kong diaspora communities. UK-based Hong Kong Watch, [and] nine other Hong Kong diaspora community groups, are expressing 'serious concern' about the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Ottawa and Beijing have signed to enhance cooperation in crime-fighting efforts between the RCMP and China’s ministry of public security.

"The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Jan. 16 that Canada and China will pursue 'pragmatic and constructive engagement' in public safety and security.... The MOU on police cooperation was one of several agreements Ottawa and Beijing signed during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China in January. Although Ottawa has made other MOUs public, the agreement on public safety cooperation has been kept confidential so far.

"The diaspora community groups said in their statement that because the government has not explained what safeguards, limitations, or oversight mechanisms are in place regarding the agreement, the lack of transparency 'has intensified fears' that cooperation between Ottawa and Beijing’s law enforcement agencies on crime 'could, intentionally or unintentionally, expose individuals or community networks to harm'....

"The groups noted that these fears could lead diaspora communities to withdraw from public life, undermining the public’s trust and safety. They also said trust between law enforcement and diaspora communities is 'essential,' because without it, communities may be hesitant to engage with authorities or report crimes....

"Hong Kong Watch and the other nine organizations are urging Ottawa to provide 'full transparency' on the MOU, including the scope, safeguards, and limitations of the agreement. The groups are also calling on lawmakers and media organizations 'to recognize the fear experienced by Hong Kong diaspora communities worldwide and to treat transnational repression as a serious and growing global concern requiring vigilance, accountability, and clear protections.'”

"The Conservatives have requested that Ottawa provide the party with a copy of the agreement on police cooperation, saying such agreements should be subject to parliamentary scrutiny if they are being kept confidential.... The Tories have also voiced concern about the MOU itself, saying China poses a security threat to Canada. Carney also expressed concern about China during the 2025 election campaign, calling it the top national security threat."

Read more: https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/hong-kong-democracy-groups-express-concern-about-canadas-police-cooperation-agreement-with-china-5985451

Canada-China deal contradicts Carney's past security concerns: Chong | Power & Politics | CBC News | January 16, 2026:

China is primary threat in Arctic, says CSIS official

CSIS Official Says China Tops Russia as ‘Primary Threat’ in the Arctic | Epoch Times | Noé Chartier:

February 13, 2026 - "Although China is not an Arctic country like Russia, its activities in the region are raising greater concern for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, according to a senior official. Paul Lynd, an assistant director with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), told MPs on Feb. 12 that though Russia maintains a “tremendous interest and focus” on the Arctic, China poses the greatest threat in the region.

“'[Russia is] of less concern than say, the activities of China and other hostile state actors at this time,' Lynd said. He specified that Russia does pose a military threat in the Arctic, which falls more under the purview of National Defence, and that the threat from China involves foreign interference and economic security. 'It’s a primary threat,' Lynd said about China in the Arctic.

"Lynd, who holds the rank of an assistant deputy minister, is the CSIS executive in charge of overseeing all of the agency’s collection activities and operations, whether in Canada or abroad. He was appearing before the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, which is currently conducting a study on Canada’s Arctic strategy.

"Lynd said concerns about Chinese activities in Canada’s Arctic relate to the use of underhanded means to acquire assets. The CSIS official specifically noted how China is currently attempting to dominate the critical minerals sector.

“'The concern we have would be with clandestine or deceptive investment practices or economic engagement in certain market sectors in the Arctic,' he said. Lynd also underlined the threat of foreign interference in the economy through the attempted manipulation of Canada’s economic policies.

"CSIS monitors economic security and advises the government when a review under the Investment Canada Act is triggered by a proposed foreign takeover. Ottawa blocked the sale of TMAC Resources’ gold mine in Hope Bay, Nunavut, to Chinese company Shandong Gold Mining in 2020, citing national security concerns."

Read more: theepochtimes.com/world/csis-official-says-china-tops-russia-as-primary-threat-in-the-arctic-5985453

Free speech alive on the internet - for now

Media Freedom…if We Can Keep it! | Ron Paul Institute | Ron Paul:

February 16, 2026 - "Last week I had the pleasure to again appear on Tucker Carlson’s popular broadcast. Although the program appears on several different platforms, on X alone the episode has been seen by more than two and a half million people. That does not include the various clips and shorts that people made and posted themselves. It is incredible how the reach and influence of the independent media has grown over the past decade or so.

"As I have often said, while there are many evil things out there on the Internet, at the same time we have the tools to communicate the unfiltered message of freedom like never before.

"Even though Tucker Carlson’s show on Fox News was enormously popular – number one in the nation – the network still yanked the show from underneath him because they didn’t like some of the things he was saying. Now, Tucker and other independent media figures answer not to studio executives with their own agendas, but rather they answer directly to the American people in the marketplace of ideas. Carlson’s reach as an independent is arguably greater than when he was on Fox.

"And there are many more like him with large – and not so large – audiences who are appealing directly to the 'consumer,' without the middleman to tell them what they can and cannot say. Admittedly, sometimes what people say is ugly, but we do not have free speech to only talk about the weather.

"Big media and big government are in bed together and they hate the fact that we can communicate with each other without their filters and influence. They long for the days when they could shovel down our throats just what they wanted us to hear and believe.

"While we may be winning this battle for free expression, we must not fool ourselves into thinking that we have won the war. We must remember just a few years ago during COVID that all it took to have your platform wiped off the face of the earth was to dare question the “wisdom” of Anthony Fauci. Even today there are forces seeking to use the power of the state to silence opinions they disagree with.

"In Europe, free speech is under attack by totalitarian measures like the Digital Services Act, which creates a police state in the name of 'protecting' citizens from 'disinformation.' Of course, 'disinformation' is simply information that governments or elites don’t want to get out. You can go to jail for an X post in Europe, while violent criminals are set free.

"Make no mistake – many in the US would love to have such a system in place to protect speech they like and punish speech they don’t like. We have already seen attempts to intimidate – or even deport – people who have protested the recent mass killings in Gaza, for example. And the US government forced sale of TikTok was not a victory for free speech.

"The truth is, 'cancel culture' exists in both the left and the right and everywhere in-between. If we want to maintain and expand our ability to communicate freely and grow our voice in the independent media sphere we cannot let our guard down. 'Free speech for me but not for thee' – using government force to shut down unwanted voices – will result in free speech for no one. And once it is gone, it will not be easy to get back."

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.
ronpaulinstitute.org/media-freedomif-we-can-keep-it/

Ron Paul’s Warnings Have Come True. His Next Prediction Is Terrifying. | Tucker Carlson  and RonPaulLibertyReport | February 11, 2026:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFWDyrnyhbM

Carney's strategic partnership with the CCP

The Prime Minister's Office releases details of PM Mark Carney's new strategic partnership with the Communist government of China. 

Canadian PM Mark Carney and Chinese president Xi in Beijing (detail). Photo by Sean Kirkpatrick, 

Canadian Press / Radio Canada International (fair use).  

Prime Minister Carney forges new strategic partnership with the People’s Republic of China focused on energy, agri-food, and trade | Office of the Prime Minister (news release):

January 16, 2026 - "In a more divided and uncertain world, Canada is ... working with urgency and determination to diversify our trade partnerships and catalyse massive new levels of investment. As the world’s second-largest economy, China presents enormous opportunities for Canada in this mission. 

"To forge a new Canada-China partnership, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, visited Beijing, the People’s Republic of China ... the first visit to China by a Canadian Prime Minister since [Justin Trudeau in] 2017. In Beijing, Prime Minister Carney met with the President of China, Xi Jinping, the Premier of China, Li Qiang, and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, Zhao Leji. After their meeting, Prime Minister Carney and President Xi released a joint statement outlining the pillars of Canada and China’s new strategic partnership.

"Central to this new partnership is an agreement to collaborate in energy, clean technology, and climate competitiveness.... Canada will allow up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles (EV) into the Canadian market, with the most-favoured-nation tariff rate of 6.1%.... It is expected that within three years, this agreement will drive considerable new Chinese joint-venture investment in Canada with trusted partners to protect and create new auto manufacturing careers for Canadian workers, and ensure a robust build-out of Canada’s EV supply chain. With this agreement, it is also anticipated that, in five years, more than 50% of these vehicles will be affordable EVs with an import price of less than $35,000, creating new lower-cost options for Canadian consumers.

"Agri-food and trade are foundations of the longstanding relationship between Canada and China – and China continues to be our second-largest export market. To renew and strengthen that relationship, Prime Minister Carney and President Xi secured a preliminary agreement-in-principle with landmark measures to remove trade barriers and reduce tariffs:

• By March 1, 2026, Canada expects that China will lower tariffs on Canadian canola seed to a combined rate of approximately 15% ... a significant drop from current combined tariff levels of approximately 85%.
• Canada expects that Canadian canola meal, lobsters, crabs, and peas will not be subject to relevant anti-discrimination tariffs from March 1, 2026, until at least the end of this year....

"Finally, to build on this momentum, Canada has set an ambitious goal to increase exports to China by 50% by 2030. To achieve this outcome, Prime Minister Carney and President Xi discussed increasing two-way investment in clean energy and technology, agri-food, wood products, and other sectors.

"Canada and China are both strong advocates of multilateralism. As a key pillar of this partnership, we will deepen our engagement on improved global governance. We will collaborate closely in key areas of shared interest, including climate competitiveness and financial and macroeconomic stability. Canada looks forward to contributing to China’s 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Presidency and appreciates China’s support for Canada’s bid to host the 2029 Summit.

"Canada and China will also pursue pragmatic and constructive engagement in public safety and security. Our law enforcement agencies will increase cooperation to better combat narcotics trafficking, transnational and cybercrime, synthetic drugs and money laundering – and create safer communities for people in both of our countries.

"They will also explore further opportunities for cultural exchanges and partnerships, including supporting museums, digital content creators, visual artists – to increase travel exchanges and cultural ties. Prime Minister Carney welcomed the agreement between Destination Canada and China Media Group to facilitate further outbound tourism to Canada, especially as we prepare to co-host the FIFA World Cup 26™. The Prime Minister welcomed President Xi’s commitment to introducing visa-free access for Canadians travelling to China.

"The Prime Minister’s visit to Beijing was the culmination of constructive, pragmatic engagement with the Chinese government over many months by the Prime Minister, members of his cabinet and caucus, and other officials. The Prime Minister looks forward to returning to China for the 2026 APEC Leaders’ Summit."

https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2026/01/16/prime-minister-carney-forges-new-strategic-partnership-peoples

US Republicans save Department of Education

The Republican-majority Congress has passed an appropriations bill stopping the Trump administration's effort to shut down the Department of Education, something Trump campaigned on in 2024.

Republicans Save the Department of Education | Ron Paul Institute | Ron Paul:

February 9, 2026 - "In his 2024 campaign President Trump said he wanted to shut down the Department of Education. Created in 1979, the Department of Education has spent many billions of dollars and imposed numerous 'reforms' on America’s schools. A result has been a continuing decline in American students’ academic performance.

"In March, President Trump signed an executive order calling for eliminating the Department of Education. Since then, Education Secretary Linda McMahon has worked on transferring some Education Department activities to other agencies. For example, it has been announced that some activities of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, which is involved in federal K-12 education programs, will be moved to the Labor Department. While these changes can reduce the power and reach of the Education Department, they do not ensure a reduction of the federal government’s role in education.

"The appropriations bill that President Trump signed into law last week indicates he has given up on ending the Department of Education. The bill, which was first approved by the Republican-majority House and Senate, contains a provision requiring the Education Department to 'support staffing levels necessary to fulfill its statutory responsibilities including carrying out programs, projects, and activities.' Another provision prohibits the Education Department from transferring funds to other government agencies.

"The bill also increases the Education Department’s budget. Increasing the budget of an unconstitutional Cabinet department is never a good idea, but it is especially bad when the federal debt is increasing by trillions of dollars a year. If President Trump and the other Republicans who have said they want the Education Department shut down are not going to even attempt to shut it down, they could at least reduce its funding.

"It is clear that shutting down the Department of Education will require a sustained effort by Americans fed up with spending billions to produce a subpar educational system. Pressure needs to be put on lawmakers to restore control over education to states, local communities, and parents.

"School choice week was the week before President Trump signed the bill providing funding to the Education Department. Programs giving parents control over their children’s education — such as Education Savings Accounts — continue to grow in popularity as do alternatives to public schools such as private schools and homeschooling. Private schools and homeschooling received a boost from the 'Big Beautiful Bill' providing tax credits for scholarships for private school tuition and home school expenses.

"Parents looking for a homeschooling curriculum incorporating the ideas of liberty should consider my online curriculum. My curriculum provides students with a solid education in history, literature, mathematics, and the sciences. It also gives students the opportunity to create their own websites and internet-based businesses. This provides students with “real world” entrepreneurial experience that will be useful no matter what career paths they choose.

"The curriculum is designed to be self-taught, with students helping, and learning from, each other via online forums. Starting in the fourth grade, students are required to write at least one essay a week. Students also take a course in public speaking.

"The curriculum emphasizes the history, philosophy, and economics of liberty, but it never substitutes indoctrination for education. The goal is to produce students with superior critical thinking skills. If you think my curriculum may meet the needs of your child, please visit www.RonPaulCurriculum.com for more information."

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/republicans-save-the-department-of-education/

 

Canada's economy on life support, report warns

Rosenberg Research's recently-released report, "Canadian Economy on Life Support," flags Canada's weak GDP growth and places the country on a recession watch. 

Expert warns Canada’s ‘life support’ economy tests Bank of Canada cuts | Benefits and Pensions Monitor | Freschia Gonzales:

February 5, 2026 - "Canada’s economy is 'on life support' even after 275 basis points of rate cuts, with weak growth, soft housing and a sliding currency sharpening questions about the Bank of Canada’s policy path, according to Rosenberg Research via BNN Bloomberg. The report, Canadian Economy on Life Support, says per capita GDP is still falling and the economy is 'growing at only one percent annually' despite the policy rate dropping from a high of five percent in 2024.  

"The report projects the economy will shrink in the fourth quarter, with output falling at an annualised rate of 0.5 percent quarter-over-quarter, compared with the Bank of Canada’s forecast of 0.0 percent. Because the economy has already contracted in two of the last three quarters, the report says Canada is on 'recession watch' for 2026. 

"David Rosenberg, chief economist and founder of Rosenberg Research, told BNN Bloomberg that 'this is what 275 basis points of Bank Canada rate cuts delivers: the grand total of one percent growth economy'.... 

"Rosenberg argued the central bank will 'be compelled to cut rates further from its already egregiously low interest rate of 2.25 percent'.... He said the Canadian dollar is likely to face additional downward pressure and ... argued that 'as weak as the Canadian dollar has been up until recently, it’s probably not weak enough.'"

Read more: https://www.benefitsandpensionsmonitor.com/investments/fixed-income/expert-warns-canadas-life-support-economy-tests-bank-of-canada-cuts/393068

Canada's economy is 'on life support': Rosenberg | BNN Bloomberg | February 3, 2026:

Poilievre gets record approval in leadership review

Pierre Poilievre sails through leadership review as Conservatives deliver a strong endorsement | CBC news | John Paul Tasker:

January 31, 2026 - "Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pulled in an overwhelming share of the vote in his leadership review held Friday night, a sign that the vast majority of party members are united behind his leadership. Roughly 87 per cent of the delegates on hand in Calgary for the party's convention voted to stick with Poilievre ...  higher than what former prime minister Stephen Harper achieved at his own leadership review back in 2005.... A result less than the 84 per cent Harper won at that review [c]ould have prompted questions about Poilievre's viability.... 

"Steve Outhouse, Poilievre's new campaign manager, told CBC News that the result is better than some Conservatives had expected and that it sends a strong signal about the direction of the party. 'That's a really clear mandate from our membership, and now we can focus on getting ready for the election, whenever that will be,' Outhouse said. "It's a big boost to his leadership. It's very gratifying'....

"'I didn't think anybody would beat Stephen Harper,' former deputy leader Lisa Raitt said of Poilievre's favourable vote share. 'He has an iron grip on the party.'"

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-poilievre-leadership-review-9.7069573

Poilievre wins Conservative leadership vote with 87.4% approval | CBC News: The National } Jan 31, 2026

Pierre Poilievre aces leadership review: Why the Conservatives opted to stand by their man | The Conversation | Sam Foutley:

February 1, 2026 - "Much of the criticism levelled against Poilievre by Conservatives proved fleeting, an emotional response to loss rather than a durable movement to replace him. Instead, it reflected a familiar post-election pattern: disappointment amplified by punditry and frustration.... Although the Conservatives failed to form government, they ... increased their vote share [and] expanded their support to new voter constituencies.... With the largest share of the popular vote for any Conservative party in Canada since 1988, the only thing that stood between the party and governing was a few percentage points....

"Replacing Poilievre would have required the party to gamble that a new leader could quickly unify the coalition, define themselves nationally and outperform an already familiar figure in Carney — all without the benefit of incumbency or clear front-runner status. Compounding this, of course, was the absence of a clear successor.... 

"Carney’s electoral success depended heavily on the collapse of the NDP vote and the broader political disruption caused by Trump’s threats to annex Canada. With a new NDP leader, the New Democrats could recover and cut into Liberal margins. Meanwhile, the government’s more mixed response to issues such as pipeline development, housing and the cost-of-living crisis could push enough voters toward the Conservatives by the next federal election campaign.

"All this said, however, Poilievre’s support cannot be explained solely by institutional inertia or a lack of alternative leadership candidates. His leadership has and continues to generate genuine enthusiasm among some voters — especially those who are young, recently immigrated or working in trades. This support is fuelled by economic frustration, declining living standards and the sense of a lost promise.... 

"Poilievre’s Conservative Party has remained cohesive and even expanded by organizing around what former communications director Ben Woodfinden calls the 'locked-out:' voters who feel shut out of prosperity amid weak growth and chronic productivity problems. In this context, Poilievre’s orthodox centre-right agenda — cutting regulatory burdens, boosting competition and removing interprovincial trade barriers — continues to attract broad, cross-class support that transcends cultural and regional divides.... By endorsing Poilievre so decisively, Conservatives signalled their belief that he remains on an upward trajectory. The leadership review was less about absolution than affirmation: a collective judgment that the party is closer to power with Poilievre than without him."

Read more: https://theconversation.com/pierre-poilievre-aces-leadership-review-why-the-conservatives-opted-to-stand-by-their-man-274159