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The Union of British Columbia Municipalities is proceeding with the People’s Republic of China’s $6,000 sponsorship deal and cocktail party for politicians and bureaucrats paid for by China at its September convention.

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West vows to continue to resist the relationship, one that Dermod Travis of IntegrityBC says should never have happened.

“There’s only one foreign government that is a sponsor and it’s the government of China and you don’t see foreign governments acting in a similar capacity with similar organizations across the country,” Travis said in an interview on this edition of theBreaker.news Podcast. “It’s a one-off, backroom, special deal for the government of China. A country with one of the most-deplorable human rights records in the world being allowed to wine and dine our elected officials across British Columbia.”

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie disagrees with West and plans to attend, if his schedule permits. Brodie was among several politicians who spent part of their Canada Day at a Mainland Chinese cultural festival organized by the pro-Beijing Canadian Alliance of Chinese Associations. The event featured Consul-Gen. Tong Xiaoling. It coincided with the anniversary of the 1921 founding of the Communist Party of China.

In an interview with host Bob Mackin, Travis challenges Brodie and other China-friendly politicians to issue proclamations in support of the Uighur and Tibetan communities, and even Falun Gong practitioners.

“If you’re not prepared to put your money where your mouth is when it comes to those three key constituencies in China, then you’re saying even more with your presence at groups and associations that are aligned with the government of China,” Travis said.

Also, Travis discusses the need for conflict of interest reforms and campaign finance checks and balances in municipal politics.

Plus, Pacific Northwest and Pacific Rim headlines and commentaries, including Mackin’s take on the week that was for ex-ambassador to China John McCallum and Liberal MP Joe Peschisolido — “Traitor Jack” and “Traitor Joe.”

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