The Michael Chong affair reveals the federal government's national security incompetence

Conservative MP Michael Chong rises during Question Period in the House of Commons amid recent revelations that China targeted his family members who lived in Hong Kong. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

“The first priority of the Government of Canada is to protect the safety and security of Canadians both at home and abroad.” So says Public Safety Canada.

One might presume this confers some obligation on the government to inform Canadians if their relations living abroad are threatened by a foreign state. Recent events suggest otherwise.