QUESTION PERIOD — Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Canada-China Relations
May 15, 2019
My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. It goes back to 2016, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his decision to negotiate an extradition treaty with China, arguing a deal would offer Canada a higher level of relationship with Beijing. The Prime Minister said at the time that the strong, robust relationship he is building with the Chinese allows us to make gains on human rights and consular files. He blamed the Harper government, saying the fact is, the relationship with China during the previous government was very inconsistent. Prime Minister Trudeau said then what we need to do is set up a positive, robust relationship.
So my question to the government leader is: Can you tell us how you characterize the relationship between Canada and China now? Is it robust? Is it positive? Is it strong?
I just want to remind the government leader that Stephen Harper left the Prime Minister’s Office close to four years ago, so who will the government blame for the current mess in Canada-China relations?
I thank the honourable senator for his question. He will know that successive governments of Canada have sought to have appropriate engagement with China, that that engagement has economic roots in Canada — I’m thinking of Mr. Diefenbaker and the sale of wheat, which is still recognized in China as a gesture of not only economic self-interest but importance, through to the recognition of bilateral diplomatic relations, through to the level of investment and cultural and political engagement.
That file has been actively pursued. I’ve had the opportunity to participate on that file with four prime ministers, including Prime Minister Harper, and can say that the Government of Canada has recognized the importance of the bilateral relationship in an era when Asia and China, within Asia, are an increasing balance in a growing world economy. It is part of our political and security interests, as well as our economic interests, and it takes complexity and diplomacy to work through some of the challenges that faces.
The honourable senator started with the extradition treaty. Clearly, if we had an extradition treaty with China, we would be in a better situation with respect to the management of some of our consular issues. But the fact is that the extradition negotiations haven’t led to fruition at this point, and that has consequences in a real sense for Canadians who are in the state of concern that we all have for their well-being in China.
I think it’s important in dealing with the bilateral relationship that we not seek to have excessive, exuberant condemnation of or focus on any one issue and that we work, through appropriate diplomatic fashion, to seek to resolve issues because there are not only Canadian consular cases involved, but there is a significant economic engagement that Canadians benefit from and, I must say, the Chinese benefit from as well.
Government leader, I’m happy you highlighted five or six decades of continuous success in Canada-China relations. That’s because prime ministers have built upon the foundation that governments from the past left behind and kept building upon. This Prime Minister has created a mess between Canada and China and has continued to look for ways to deflect that attention.
Five months ago, entrepreneur Michael Spavor and former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig were arrested by Chinese security services and thrown in jail for dubious reasons, and we all know it was retaliation for the arrest of the Huawei CFO.
While the Prime Minister qualified these two individuals as hostages, the Trudeau government appears to have given up on its demands for their release.
Senator Harder, why has the Trudeau government abandoned these two Canadians? Who is negotiating for their release, and can you share with this chamber the name of the chief negotiator and lead on this particular issue for Canada and China?
Senator, I would caution you to be a little less rhetorical on this. There are Canadians in jail. They are in very difficult circumstances. I don’t think the hyper-vituperation on your part assists them or gives them any comfort.
I can confirm that consular visits have taken place in recent days. I can confirm that the Government of Canada, in concert with like-minded countries, which is an unprecedented action on their part, is under way on this consular matter.
I would also caution you to place, as the honourable senator is anxious to do, the situation in the hands of our Prime Minister. These were decisions taken by the Government of China. The decision with respect to the extradition or potential extradition of Ms. Meng is entirely within our court system.
It is important that we not seek to have partisan advantage in a situation where Canadian lives are at stake.
