On The Line: Can Canada keep up with China? Can we keep it out?

In this week’s On The Line, host Jen Gerson speaks with Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, who recently made headlines after a tense exchange with newly converted Liberal MP Michael Ma at a parliamentary committee studying the security risks of importing Chinese electric vehicles.McCuaig-Johnston draws on decades of experience studying China and technology to explain her growing concerns about how China leverages its leading tech sector — and how that capability could be used for surveillance or influence operations in Western countries. The conversation looks at whether Canada is equipped to manage that relationship, or whether it has been too slow to recognize the risks. At this point, can we really defend ourselves, or is China in too deep?They also revisit the now-infamous committee hearing that put McCuaig-Johnston in the spotlight. What exactly happened, and what was Michael Ma thinking? It’s a pointed discussion about national security, political judgment, and how Canada is handling one of the defining geopolitical challenges of the moment.All that, in this week’s episode of On The Line. A note for video viewers: this interview was recorded while Gerson was in Montreal for the Liberal leadership convention.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy the episode — and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected] Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe