A U.S. Case, a Global Wake-Up Call

THUNDER BAY – OPINION – The sentencing of former NYPD officer Michael McMahon this week in the United States may seem like a distant headline, but it speaks to a growing global issue with real implications for Canadians—especially here in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario.

Crime doesn’t respect borders any more than it respects the law.

McMahon was convicted of working as an unregistered agent for the People’s Republic of China (PRC), helping Chinese officials track and harass a Chinese national who had taken refuge in the U.S.

His crime? Not just surveillance—but actively helping a foreign regime pressure someone on American soil to return “home” to face charges in a legal system they had fled.

It’s part of a broader PRC strategy known as “Operation Fox Hunt”—a campaign billed as an anti-corruption effort, but one increasingly linked to transnational repression: the harassment, coercion, and silencing of dissent abroad.

Canada Is Not Immune

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just an American problem. Canada, too, has faced allegations of covert overseas influence from foreign states, especially China. Reports from CSIS and the RCMP have repeatedly pointed to “Chinese police stations” operating informally in Canadian cities—from Vancouver to Toronto—reportedly used to intimidate members of the Chinese diaspora.

If it can happen in Toronto, it can happen in Thunder Bay.

Thunder Bay is home to a growing international student community, and like many Canadian cities, has welcomed people fleeing persecution, authoritarianism, or injustice abroad. Our multiculturalism is a strength—but it also means we must be vigilant in defending the rights of newcomers from foreign interference.

The Right to Be Safe from Repression—Anywhere

The McMahon case shines a light on how transnational repression operates: through surveillance, threats, and even manipulation of family members abroad. It’s not always dramatic. Sometimes, it’s subtle: messages to relatives, veiled warnings, unexpected “visits” from consular officials. But make no mistake—it’s meant to instill fear.

Every Canadian, whether born here or having arrived last year, deserves the right to safety and freedom from foreign coercion. That right must extend to our homes, our streets, and our inboxes.

A Call for Policy, Protection, and Public Awareness

Canada must strengthen its response. That includes:

• Clear protections for victims of foreign political harassment.

• Public awareness campaigns to help vulnerable communities recognize signs of intimidation.

• Robust oversight of private investigators and others who could be recruited—knowingly or unknowingly—into these schemes.

• And perhaps most importantly, open dialogue with diaspora communities, who often face these threats in silence.

Thunder Bay: Small City, Global Responsibility

Even in smaller centres like Thunder Bay, we can’t assume this is someone else’s issue. Our community includes people from around the world. We owe it to them to stay informed, speak up, and stand against foreign interference wherever it occurs.

We already see the terrible impact of the global drug trafficking trade in Thunder Bay and the increased gun crime that followed the invasion of southern Ontario gangs.

In addition we also see the impact of human trafficking that often follows international crime.

Because what happened in New Jersey could just as easily happen in Northern Ontario. Let’s not wait until it does to care.