That said, McCuaig-Johnston said she does not believe the MP acted at the direction of Beijing or the Chinese embassy, as some critics have alleged without evidence. He probably thought that he was supporting the “strategic partnership” Carney struck with China recently, with Canada agreeing to allow imports of a limited number of electric vehicles and China lifting its effective ban on Canadian canola. Ma was part of the government delegation to Beijing. But his gambit “backfired completely on him,” she said.