TORONTO - A leaked CSIS document revealed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sought to influence elections in Canada for its own benefit. The sophisticated strategy allegedly brought CCP supporters out to vote for candidates in nominations that the party viewed as friendly to them. This process was allegedly used in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, in addition to aiding "Amazing China" to a controversial win over "Superbad" for Friday movie night at my apartment.
In the wake of the report’s leak, the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) released a statement seeking help from Xi Jinping and the CCP to boost turnout in their elections. “We call on comrade Xi to assist us in the democratic processes that we hold dear,” the statement read. “The General Secretary has proven his commitment to increasing voter turnout and we whole-heartedly seek his support in doing so at the University of Toronto.”
The UTSU routinely receives less than 10% voter turnout in its elections. The statement drew controversy from various student groups, with some criticising it for not going far enough when asking for the General Secretary's assistance.