An exclusive news report dominated the headlines in Canada in recent weeks: Canadian intelligence had warned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about a vast campaign of political interference by China. Not surprisingly, the reports author was Sam Cooper His best-selling 2021 book, Wilful Blindness: How a Network of Narcos, Tycoons and CCP Agents Infiltrated the West, examines violent international gangs involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, corruption and, most alarmingly, Chinese espionage and influence activity in Canada. Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica. January 2023 -- Sebastian Rotella, * Journalist * " Sam Cooper is probably the most well informed and researched journalist in Canada on the topic of Chinese organised crime and spying activities. His work has always been supported by solid journalistic research and rigorous work. What he shared with us in this book should be mandatory reading for all elected officials from municipal, provincial or federal government.
Not to read it would be irresponsible as political or business leaders."
Michel Juneau-Katsuya Author, National Security Specialist and Former Chief of Asia/Pacific, CSIS. -- Michel Juneau-Katsuya * Former Chief of Asia/Pacific * "Explosive revelations that expose our government's complicity with the Chinese Communist Party in undermining Canada's national security and democracy."
Dr. Charles Burton Senior Fellow, Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Centre for Advancing Canadas Interests Abroad Non-Resident Senior Fellow, European Values Center for Security Policy. -- Dr. Charles Burton * Senior Fellow * If you want to understand war in the 21rst century. Read this to get the story"
Robert Spalding, US Brigadier General(retired) -- Robert Spaling * Former US Brigadier General * This book reads like a thriller and is stranger than fiction. Gripping, racy and exciting, it is difficult to put down. A tale of gambling, narcotics, tycoons, criminal gangs and Communists. And the shocking part is that its not a novel, it is all true.
Based on meticulous research, this aptly titled book exposes the naivety and corruption at the heart of western democracies which for too long have kowtowed to the Chinese Communist Party regime and their crime syndicates and as a result put the free world in jeopardy.
"This book is a wake-up call and a must-read.
Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch -- Benedict Rogers * CEO * "In Wilful Blindness, Sam Cooper has shown what security officials have been hesitant to share with Canadians until recently; that Canada is a haven for nefarious national security and transnational organized crime networks and our democracy is at risk".
Calvin Chrustie - The Critical Risk Team - Risk and Security Consultant Senior Ops Officer for Transnational Organized Crime, RCMP (retired) -- Calvin Chrustie New Book Dives Into Canadian Real Estate, Gangs, Laundering, And Corrupt Officials
The most important book on Canadian real estate youll read this year isnt about demographics or interest rates. Its investigative journalist Sam Coopers new book, Wilful Blindness: How A Network of Narcos, Tycoons and CCP Agents Infiltrated The West. The controversial best-seller outlines how business tycoons and China set out for a power grab 40 years ago. The quiet cities of Toronto and Vancouver played important strategic roles. What followed was a flood of narcos, corrupt officials, and hockey bags of money.
The issue has been occurring in Vancouver for decades, but it only recently became visible. This transition from a place with a discreet underbelly to Gangsters Paradise happened after the discovery of Canadas weakness real estate.
It turns out tax-free capital gains were more than ideal for money laundering. Since Canada was so dependent on real estate, most officials ignored warning signs. In fact, they actually cheered on the laundering. They even gave local buyers access to greater credit to compete. Over in rural Ontario, buyers now play bidding wars just like they do in big city Vancouver. Adorable, right? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of takeaways from this book for all parts of the economy.
Lets talk about three key takeaways, relating specifically to real estate markets. Opportunity, Or A Well Organized Plan? Coopers book is primarily about the global ambitions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). More.....https://betterdwelling.com/new-book-dives-into-canadian-real-estate- gangs-laundering-and-corrupt-officials/ -- Stephen Punwasi * Publisher * Sams vigorous journalism on tracking and exposing money laundering has been crucial in the national push to reform and update Canadas laws. This book pulls his work, and indeed the work of many professionals, into one explosive narrative. Canadian lore often pitches our country as a well-meaning good partner in the world. But as Sams report has shown, we are a node in global systems of corruption and crime, with the infiltration and implications only becoming worse overtime.
The global money laundering and corruption detailed in this book undermines Canadas own democracy and safety, while we act as a meeting and banking hub for criminals and states to continue to repress some of the most vulnerable people around the world. And it is not only through wilful blindness that Canada has found itself in this position. Sam shows that as the money rolls in, there are enablers in Canadian intuitions that are willing to roll out the carpet for these illicit funds, horrendous impacts be damned. Hopefully Sams book will wake up Ottawa into realizing that global corruption systems are one of the biggest threats the world faces, perpetuating inequality, conflict, human rights violation, and environmental degradation. And we need to act accordingly.
James Cohen, President -- James Cohen * President *
