Join the CIC National Capital Branch at its next Politics @ the Pub event –

Since Xi Jinping assumed the presidency of China in 2012, he has introduced monumental changes in many aspects of society. He has developed a vibrant innovation-driven strategy for economic development with massive increases in R&D. His anti-corruption campaign has been highly popular among the average Chinese, though it has also ensnared many political rivals. Surveillance technology is having widespread implementation. China’s more proactive role on the international scene includes the Belt and Road Initiative and also the militarization of the South China Sea islands. At the same time, with the detention and arrest of several Canadians, the death penalty sentence for several others and non-tariff barriers on agricultural products, China’s relations with Canada are at a point not seen since our government recognized the People’s Republic of China in 1970.

Our featured speaker, Nathan VanderKlippe, the Asia correspondent for The Globe and Mail, will share his perspective on the ground as these events have unfolded. Robert Fife, The Globe and Mail’s Ottawa Bureau Chief, will moderate the discussion.

Speaker Bios:

Nathan VanderKlippe is the Asia correspondent for The Globe and Mail. Based in Beijing, his reporting takes him across the region, where he covers political developments, social trends, international affairs, refugee crises, natural disasters and, occasionally, hockey games. He has spoken with political and business leaders, including Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, former president of Taiwan Ma Ying-jeou, JD.com founder Richard Liu and many others. He served two terms on the board of the Foreign Correspondents Club of China. Prior to joining the Globe in 2009, VanderKlippe was a print and television correspondent in Western Canada based in Calgary, Vancouver and Yellowknife. He has covered Canada’s energy industry, aboriginal issues and Canada’s north. His reporting has been recognized by the National Newspaper Awards, National Magazine Awards, the Canadian Association of Journalists, Amnesty International, The Society of American Business Editors and Writers and The International China Journalists Association.

Robert Fife is The Globe and Mail’s Ottawa Bureau Chief. He is the former Ottawa Bureau Chief of CTV National News and host of CTV’s “Question Period”. He and his team broke the story of political interference in the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin. He and three other Globe journalists won a 2018 National Newspaper Award for coverage of Huawei. In 2016 Mr. Fife and his Globe and Mail team won a National Newspaper Award for a series of stories about Liberal Party cash-for-access fundraisers that resulted in Prime Minister Trudeau modifying all party fundraising. Mr. Fife uncovered the Senate expense scandal, setting the course for an RCMP investigation, audits and reform of Senate expense rules. In 2012, he exposed the E. coli contamination of some XL Foods products, forcing the company to recall 1500 tainted meat products. Covering national politics since 1978, he worked as a senior political reporter for Canadian Press and as Ottawa Bureau Chief for the Sun Media chain, and had the same post for the National Post and CanWest News Service. Mr. Fife is also the author of several books: A Capital Scandal: Politics, Patronage and Payoff; Why Parliament Must Be Reformed; and Kim Campbell: The Making of a Politician.

SCHEDULE:

5:30 pm: Doors open

6:00 – 7:30 pm: Panel discussion

TICKETS:

Tickets are $7.50 for CIC student members, $10.00 for CIC members, and $15.00 for non-members, and include a beer, glass of wine or other beverage.

To purchase tickets online: https://cicncbmay282019.eventbrite.ca

** While tickets will be sold at the door up to the capacity of the venue, we highly recommend purchasing tickets in advance online as our last event sold out!