Tory MP apologizes for 'flirtatious' e-mails to Chinese reporter

[CHIMO]

The Harper government found itself in an embarrassing position when a senior MP with foreign affairs duties was forced to apologize for sending “flirtatious” e-mails to a journalist employed by China’s government-controlled news agency.

Bob Dechert, Conservative MP for Missisauga-Erindale, scrambled Friday to explain amorous e-mails he’d sent in 2010 to Shi Rong, a Toronto correspondent with Xinhua News Agency.

Mr. Dechert is parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.

Xinhua is the official press service for the People’s Republic of China and Western counterintelligence organizations have likened it to an intelligence agency.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/tory-mp-apologizes-for-flirtatious-e-mails-to-chinese-reporter/article2160043/


PM's comment targets Islam

Whatever he meant by referring in a CBC interview to "Islamacism" as the biggest terrorism threat that faces Canada today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper deservedly has come under fire for his ill-chosen remark.
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/comment+targets+Islam/5368505/story.html

Chinese-Canadians request meeting with CSIS head
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/chinese-canadians-request-meeting-with-csis-head/article1627361/

[shockedcanadian]

1. Comical

Can you say, Security Risk? It was best that this came out early and in the open (probably was not a mistake), you never know when the Chinese government (or another country) could have obtained more information to be used as blackmail.

This much I know for sure, I hope CSIS and the RCMP do their jobs and keep a very close eye on Mr. Dechert. Whether it was innocent or not as he claimed, in such a high profile position you do not get a free "pass" no matter who you are. China is notorious for their use of "honey traps" in order to get information from other nations. So even if this reporter did not have any motivations, the Chinese government will add a nice note in his intelligence file in case they want to try and gain some influence over him in the future (sex sells).

[CHIMO]

2. Tory MP who flirted with Chinese reporter passed security check

The Chinese International Economic Co-operation paid a total of $5,697 for Mr. Dechert and Clark's nine-day trip, including hotel, food and meals.

The purpose of the trip was to “promote binational economic co-operation,” according to Mr. Dechert's public statement of sponsored travel.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tory-mp-who-flirted-with-chinese-reporter-passed-security-check/article2162968/page2/

[shockedcanadian]

3. Good find Chimo...

$6000 is a drop in the bucket, but a nice ice breaker...