周建成及其组织为何值得加国选举机构立案调查？

A former Liberal supporter seems to have taken on a different political path by promoting conservative causes in the Chinese community. Ted Jiangcheng Zhou, a Toronto wealthy condo developer, has set up a network across federal ridings to advocate for Conservative ideas and values. But the Liberal and NDP accuse that the rival Conservatives used his system to skirt election laws.

据《环球邮报》周一头条新闻报道称，周建成组建的系统横跨加国多个联邦选区，包括从卑诗、阿省至安省的10个机构及加拿大华人保守党选区联合总会。联合总会曾于11月9日举办集会和晚宴，其间保守党联邦议员要求与会群体“踊跃为保守党捐款”。

According to a frontpage article in the Globe on Monday, Zhou’s network includes ten organizations in BC to Alberta to Ontario as well as a national organization called the Federation of Chinese Canadian Conservatives (FCCC).  The organization held a rally and dinner on Nov. 9, where Conservative MP was seen urging the crowd to “volunteer or to donate to the Conservative Party.”



据《环邮》报道称，周的机构和被控竞选活动引起加国竞选委员会的关注，并导致反对党的置疑。自由党和新民主党周一都上书联邦竞选委员会主席Yves Cot，要求对该名地产富商及其他的非盈利机构与保守党勾结，以赢得华社选民支持的做法进行调查。

Zhou’s organizations and the alleged campaign efforts have raised eyebrows of Election Canada and sparked concerns from oppositions. The Liberal and NDP parties both sent letters to Federal Elections Commissioner Yves Cot on Monday, seeking a probe into whether the wealthy developer and his non-profit groups have colluded with the Conservatives to win support from the Chinese community, according to the Globe.

周为推广保守党纲领的努力得到这个拥护保守观念的华人社区的肯定。《环邮》一文引发了一些支持周和其机构社区人士的不满和反弹。

Zhou's efforts to promote Conservative cause seems well regarded in this community showing overwhelming support for Conservative values and beliefs. The Globe article has created repercussions from those who voiced their support for Zhou and his organizations.

一则微信贴文称：“周没做错任何事。他为推行保守理念所付出的汗水和努力是值得肯定的！“

“Zhou has done nothing wrong. His blood, tears, and sweat made to the Conservative causes are well appreciated！“ claimed a WeChat post.



周和保守党领袖谢尔都否认周的机构进行了任何捐款活动或曾为将在明年举行的大选中为保守党竞选议员效力。周表示他与保守党选举扯不上关系，称他的网络系统不过是为了在加国华人社区推广小c保守政纲。

Both Zhou and Andrew Scheer’s office denied that Mr. Zhou’s organizations are involved in fundraising or helping his party to elect MPs in next year’s general election. Zhou maintains that he is not acting as an arm of the Conservative Party, saying he set up that network to promote small-c conservative causes within the Chinese-Canadian community.

虽然没有直接进行财务捐赠，一个非盈利机构向某政党提供志愿者名单或其他任何非财务形式的好处都会被认作属于勾结政党。加拿大选举法禁止通过第三方途径避开对政党实施的捐款和花费额度限制。即使向某政党捐款额未曾突破每年$1575元的上限，但向其提供的免费服务也会被认为是非财务形式的捐款，并受同等额度的限制。

While not making direct monetary donations, a non-profit organization providing a list of volunteers to a political party or provided any other form of non-monetary benefit would be a collision. The Election Act prohibits third parties to be used as vehicles to evade the spending and contribution limits imposed on political parties. Even if donations to parties did not exceed $1575 a year, free services provided to the party would be considered non-monetary contributions capped by the same limit.



据《环邮》报道，周的组织的确有串通联邦保守党之嫌并会遭到选举委员会的调查。

According to the Globe, the matters concerning Zhou and the Conservative Party did raise the question about collusion and warrant an investigation from the Elections Commission.

事实上，周并非初涉政治捐款领域。《环邮》报道说，周在2016年向联邦保守党的劲敌自由党捐款$1500元，且在同年参加了有特鲁多闪亮登场的臭名昭著的豪门宴。更重要的是，周看似与中国当局关系密切，并似乎与中国大陆开展的旨在影响海外华裔群体的“软势力“行动有染。

However, Zhou is no stranger to the political fundraising arena. According to the Globe, he has donated $1500 in 2016 to the Conservative's rival Liberals and were among the selected few who attended the infamous cash-for-access fundraiser in 2016 featuring PM Trudeau. More importantly, Zhou seems to have strong ties with Chinese authorities and has allegedly got involved in China’s “soft power operations” aiming at influencing the overseas Chinese diaspora.



在华社强劲的保守党势头影响下，许多加国华裔纷纷登上保守党快车，欲乘这股蓝色东风登上加国政治舞台。但他们其中大多数人都是初涉加国政坛。而参选政治领袖不仅需要投入时间和精力，更重要的是遵守选举领域的法律法规，并能在错综复杂的加国政治风云中不迷失方向。

Sensing the strong Conservative vibes, a growing number of Chinese Canadian candidates have jumped on the Conservative bandwagon, trying to ride the blue wave to political offices. However, for many of them, the Canadian political arena is new territory. Taking a leadership role requires not only the time and efforts but also the ability to navigate the complicated electoral system and to be in compliance with the law.