CCP Infiltration in Toronto — Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham (FCCM)

Summer is here again and many food festivals are about to take place. Coming up at the end of June is the Taste of Asia festival in Markham, Kennedy & Steeles, which may attract everyone’s attention and give them a taste of the street food experience reminiscent of Hong Kong. However, do you really know about the organizer of this event?

Taste of Asia is co-organized by the Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham (FCCM) and the Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada (APMC). The FCCM is a pro-Communist organization and maintains close ties with the Chinese consulate. While it may seem natural for a consulate to support cultural and diaspora activities, it is a well-known fact that the Chinese consulate and Chinese diaspora organizations serve as the forefront of the Chinese Communist Party’s overseas united front efforts. The FCCM, operating under the guise of a local non-profit organization in Markham, has been hosting and coordinating large-scale propaganda activities on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.

Founded in 1989, the FCCM claims that its purpose is to “promote and protect the human rights of Chinese Canadians in Markham” and “voice out the concerns of Chinese Canadians in Markham.”

However, since 2012, the FCCM has been organizing flag-raising ceremonies for the Chinese Communist regime every October 1st at the Markham Civic Centre, celebrating what is known as the National Day of China, despite trampling upon human rights and disregarding their significance.

In 2014, the then-Chinese Consul General in Toronto visited the FCCM and other Chinese community organizations for the Chinese New Year celebrations. That same year, Qiu Yuanping, the Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, visited Toronto and made a special trip to the FCCM and the aforementioned pro-Communist organization, the Toronto Association of Chinese Canadian Members.

The following year, Consular officials and the Consul General in Toronto also attended the opening ceremony of the Taste of Asia festival.Over the years, the FCCM has continuously invited Consular officials from the Chinese consulate, as well as mayors and councilors such as Frank Scarpitti, Michael Chan, Han Dong, and Ritch Lau, to attend the festival’s opening ceremony.

In 2016, the FCCM co-organized the “Markham-Wuhan Sister City 10th Anniversary Celebration and 2016 China-Canada Economic and Trade Summit” with the Chinese consulate.

At the end of 2017, the FCCM and its subsidiary, the Markham Chinese Business Association (CCCM), immediately organized the “One Belt, One Road” Business and Economic Forum and Networking Luncheon following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 4-day visit to China. Michael Chan, the former Ontario Minister of International Trade, Mary Ng, Federal Member of Parliament and Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, as well as a Counsellor from the Chinese consulate, were the forum’s keynote speakers.

One cannot help but question whether these Chinese diaspora business associations are assisting Chinese businesses and promoting trade or acting as agents of the Chinese consulate?

Apart from organizing major propaganda activities for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), FCCM Chairman Ken Ng has also become the CCP’s mouthpiece, consistently speaking positively about the CCP.

In addition to being a frequent attendee of pro-CCP organizations and events at the Chinese Consulate-General, Ng also became one of the co-chairs of the Canada-China Relations Council in 2017, which claims to aim at further promoting friendly relations between Canada and China. Among the other co-chairs of this council is Qu Tao, who previously served as Vice Chairman of the Toronto Chinese Community Service Association. According to reports from the Epoch Times, Qu Tao has consistently shown strong support for the CCP regime, actively participating in or establishing various Chinese community organizations that are clearly under CCP control and holding positions in pro-CCP groups.

In early 2019, then-Canadian Ambassador to China John McCallum attended a symposium organized by Qu Tao and the Canada-China Relations Council, where he publicly commented on the Huawei Meng Wanzhou case and expressed support for her release. During the symposium, FCCM Chairman Ken Ng also stated his hope for a quick resolution of the case to facilitate Meng Wanzhou’s release. McCallum’s remarks drew public criticism, and some opinions suggested that Prime Minister Trudeau should dismiss McCallum to clarify Canada’s policy stance. Ultimately, a few days later, Trudeau issued a statement agreeing to McCallum’s resignation from the position of Canadian Ambassador to China. McCallum thus became the first Canadian ambassador to be asked to resign while in office.

In 2019, following the outbreak of the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement in Hong Kong, FCCM also sent representatives to attend the “Support Stability, Prosperity, and Peace. Hong Kong’s Future Will Be Better” rally organized by the Toronto Chinese Business Association. During the rally, their representative spoke, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the chaos and disruption of public order in Hong Kong. We hope everyone will support the Hong Kong police in maintaining stability and continue to promote development without causing unrest.”

On September 30th and October 5th of the same year, FCCM also held two flag-raising ceremonies for the Chinese flag. Consul General Han Tao of the Chinese Consulate-General in Toronto praised the FCCM and FCCYR (Federation of Chinese Canadians in York Region) for organizing the ceremonies, stating, “Strengthening the connection between Chinese overseas and our motherland, promoting exchanges and friendship between the people of China and Canada.” Looking at the promotional materials for these events, at least one flag-raising ceremony clearly indicated the sponsorship of the Chinese Consulate-General in Toronto.

In 2020, when the Markham City Council discussed a motion to prohibit the raising of flags of other countries at its municipal government during non-foreign official visits, Ken Ng also attended in support and delivered a speech.

If FCCM truly cares about human rights, why do they continue to collaborate closely with the CCP and engage in activities that support its oppressive actions? Furthermore, in 2019, they condemned Hong Kong people who were pursuing democracy and basic human rights, labeling them as rioters.

We understand that Hong Kong people living abroad may have a special longing for everything related to Hong Kong, and sometimes they may wish to attend events that remind them of the past, such as food festivals. We cannot demand or prevent anyone from attending such events, but we only hope that everyone can remember their original intentions and recall why they left our home, Hong Kong. As Hong Kongers abroad, we should strive to do what we ought to do and try our best to resist or avoid participating in activities organized by pro-CCP organizations that support human rights suppression, so as not to betray our initial intentions.