Open Sources Guelph #415 - March 2, 2023

This week on Open Sources Guelph, we're crowding the national news leaders by stealing their thunder. From our non-existent news headquarters in Ottawa, we're going to look at the increase in use and rhetoric around unofficial border crossings, plus the new controversy around Chinese election interference. We're also going to discuss the importation of far-right European politics (for a week anyway), and then the two old men who host this show are going to discuss Tik Tok!

This Thursday, March 2, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:

On the Roxham. Canada's most famous unofficial border crossing is back in the news with an increased number of people coming into Quebec from the U.S. since the end of 2022. Quebec Premier François Legault and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre are both demanding that Roxham Road be closed but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has warned that this comes with its own set of complications. Can Canada respond compassionately, or are we doomed to a 'Build the Wall' narrative?

China Breach. So it's not a good week for Trudeau or his party now with competing investigations into alleged election interference involving the Liberal Party, key ridings, and the Chinese government. Media reports accuse the PM of ignoring the warning signs in 2019 and 2021, and the opposition parties are united in their demand for further investigation, but how long can Trudeau ignore the issue and are we seeing the cracks that will lead to another election?

The Passion Over Christine. Unless you're a fan of the Freedom Convoy or far-right European politics, you probably haven't heard of Christine Anderson. Essentially, her political party, the AfD, is the closest thing to the Nazis that Germany has seen in 80 years, and last week, Anderson did a tour of Canada that some politicians, including sitting Members of Parliament from the Conservative Party, are trying to live down. We'll talk about why this is a big deal.

Tik Tok... Boom! Back to China concerns, and it was a rough week for everyone's favourite new social media phenomenon. Tik Tok has now been banned on all Federal government devices, several provincial governments have made, or are thinking about making, the same move, and even the City of Guelph is taking a good, long look at the app. Security and privacy concerns are rank when it comes to Tik Tok, but is there a way to balance those concerns and its popularity and influence?

Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.