Shaun Newman Podcast #943 - Sam Cooper
Oct 31, 2025
Sam Cooper, an investigative journalist and author, dives deep into the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in North America. He discusses his testimony to Parliament on ethics, highlighting the limitations of Canada's ethics commissioner. Sam critiques RCMP inaction concerning election interference and sheds light on Canada as a hub for fentanyl trafficking. With insights on free speech issues in the UK and warnings about China's influence on Western democracies, he provides a compelling overview of transnational crime and its implications for national security.
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Canada's Ethics Regime Is Structurally Weak
- Sam Cooper argues Canada's ethics commissioner lacks independence because the office is politically appointed and serves at the prime minister's pleasure.
- He says this structural weakness allows ethical gaps and prevents meaningful accountability for senior politicians.
Create An Independent Anti‑Corruption Body
- Sam Cooper recommends creating an independent anti-corruption commission to replace RCMP on politically sensitive files.
- He argues the RCMP cannot effectively investigate senior politicians tied to foreign powers or interests.
Committees Inform Voters, Not Enforce Law
- Sam Cooper calls parliamentary committees mostly political theatre with little regulatory or enforcement teeth.
- He says hearings inform voters but rarely produce concrete accountability or punishments.
