Having known him personally, I can say with certainty that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plans do not at all align with Havel’s vision. Havel calls this performative conformity “living in a lie.”In post-dictatorial states, governments often no longer need to terrorize their citizens — ideology and submissiveness suffice. Citizens will go along, like the shopkeeper, but they will not defend the ideology if it’s challenged by the truth. Will our new “strategic partnership” be the fuel that supercharges the ongoing efforts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to infiltrate and influence our nation? Jan Matejcek co-founded the Save PEI Association, a non-profit that seeks to protect PEI’s democracy and heritage, and is a contributor to the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Source: National Post February 02, 2026 19:05 UTC