Is China’s ‘red carpet’ era for Canadian business about to end?

Canada’s Ballard Power Systems is deploying zero-emissions vehicles through partnerships with several firms in China. (Photo by Fang Zhe/Xinhua via Getty Images) As the latest federal budget steps up spending to counter the influence of authoritarian regimes like China within Canada, the world’s second-largest economy could become a tougher place for Canadian companies to do business. Tuesday’s budget included new money to create a National Counter-Foreign Interference Office in the Department of Public Safety. It also gave nearly $50 million to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to increase protections against countries like China, Russia, and Iran. The spending comes as…