As someone who has voted in every Canadian election since turning 18, I remember very clearly the previous administration. If anything, it was the Conservative Party under Stephen Harper that enjoyed good relations with China.

Trade between the two countries increased in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis as Harper’s government turned to China to defend its economy from the crisis in America. Harper also gained the respect of China and ethnic Chinese for apologising for the discriminatory “Chinese head tax” and paying compensation to the descendants of Chinese workers who were charged the fee to enter the country, including myself.

At the time, it was clear that if China favoured anyone, it would have been Harper’s Conservatives – not so much because of politics, but mostly because of lucrative trade.

Trudeau’s government has actually had a very strained relationship with China, as it moves closer to the hardline US stance on China’s economic dominance and alleged human rights violations.

The Conservative Party today, too, is very different from the one in 2015. The Conservatives now are far more eager to make a bogeyman out of China than Harper did.

So far, many of the accusations have been nameless, faceless, and hidden behind supposedly classified documents, the existence of which neither the police nor the intelligence services have formally acknowledged. We should be wary of these accusations.

Canada is slipping more and more into the political extremism and unfounded conspiracy theories of American politics. Accusations of Chinese interference are just part of the trend.

Everyone is pointing fingers at everything and everyone else. Canada is slipping into distrust and political polarisation. While the news might be about China, we should really be asking questions about the state of Canadian democracy.

Timothy Wong, Whampoa

Our flagship carrier should display our flags

It is time for Cathay to tell the world that it is indeed Hong Kong’s flagship carrier by proudly displaying the flags of the Hong Kong SAR and our country on its planes. This is also a good move to market Hong Kong to the whole world.

Alternatively, the government should consider giving that honour to another carrier who will wear our flags proudly on their planes.

Nick Wang, North Point

A shift towards rote learning won’t do students good

Liberal studies was aimed at giving students a broad-based education and its replacement, citizenship and social development, is likely to be narrower in focus. Furthermore, rather than being taught to engage with complex ideas, we may now see a shift away from critical thinking and towards rote learning and memorisation of facts.

I really hope we will still be able to discuss the different perspectives on an issue, rather than stick to a standard answer.

Chiharu Wong Tsz Ching, Kwai Chung

Deteriorating mental health not to be taken lightly

Apart from mental illness, other types of special education needs, such as autism and intellectual disability, also saw double-digit increases in schools over the same period.

The stigma surrounding mental health issues makes it hard for people to seek help. If we know someone going through a rough patch, we should encourage them to reach out. Mental health issues are not to be taken lightly.

Rai Janesha, Kwai Chung