Canadian Immigrants being coerced to spy, geez really?

There have long been rumours about Chinese students and workers in Canada actually being spies. And if you can remember about a year and a half ago, there was a story of a Chinese diplomat in Australia who claimed that there were upwards of 1200 Chinese spies operating in that country.

The defectors say the spies and informants have orders to disrupt the Falun Gong movement, which China calls "a dangerous cult," and to steal commercial and scientific secrets.

Well, those Chinese diplomats have now come to Canada seeking asylum and claim that there are more spies and informants operating in Canada than any other country. Of course the Chinese government denies these claims (as if one would expect someone from the 'Party' to be honest about such a thing).

However, former CSIS agent Michel Juneau-Katsuya, finds them credible. During the mid-1990s, Juneau-Katsuya oversaw the CSIS Asian-Pacific desk. He says if Canadian intelligence agencies weren't preoccupied with Islamist terrorists these days they would realize the greatest threat to Canadian security comes from China.

So this brings forth an interesting question: Should we be making such grand apologies and offering reparations to Chinese immigrants for something that we did more than 80 years ago when our intelligence services are telling us that Chinese have been operating a vast spy and informant network for many years?

I have no problem with apologizing for our past wrongdoings. However, I feel there is no need to begin offering monetary payments on top of these formal apologies from our Prime Minister. Nothing is accomplished from 'buying' forgiveness other than attempting to 'buy' the votes of the Chinese population in Canada (close to 1.1 million or 3.5% of the population). $10,000+ per vote is pretty expensive, but come to think of it, I'd need about that much to vote for Steven Harper. I don't see how getting monetary compensation now can change what happened to someone's parents or grandparents 80 years ago.

Technically, you could say that a 'head tax' still exists for all immigrants. Immigration fees are still high and the process is quite costly. So costly that, outside of refugees, only the rich can afford to come to Canada. Does that mean we should eliminate immigration fees? And give reparations to all people who have immigrated to Canada? Will Meng and I receive an apology because I had to pay immigration fees (head tax) for her to come to Canada with me?

Note: just to clear things up, Meng is not a spy for the Chinese government. I'm 100% sure of that......or am I?

Links:
Reuters story on spies
CBC story on spies
CP story on apology