QUESTION PERIOD — Global Affairs
Canada-China Relations
April 14, 2026
Government leader, we’ve seen over the last little while Prime Minister Carney and Minister of Finance Champagne engage in attempts to diversify trade by going to China and trying to capitalize on that trade relationship.
We also recognize that China is one of the world’s largest violators of human rights. We have seen how they trample on civil rights in Hong Kong. We see how they treat the Uighur Muslim minority in Xinjiang by putting them in concentration camps.
We see how they continue to encroach on the democracy and freedom of the democratic Republic of China, Taiwan.
What guarantees do we have by the Carney government that, in their attempt to diversify trade by dealing with mainland China, they are not going to compromise on fundamental human rights and fundamental democratic principles?
Thank you for the question. It’s an important issue, Senator Housakos. It gives me the opportunity to underline that the government remains committed to engaging with China in a manner that is consistent with Canadian values, interests and international obligations concerning every issue that you raised in your question.
No matter if there’s commercial agreement with China, every single time the Canadian government will remain committed to engaging with China in a manner that is consistent with the values shared by Canadians in this land.
We’ve seen mainland China consistently breach international rules of law. We saw what we went through for a long period of time when the two Michaels were imprisoned unfairly and unjustly. We needed, of course, the United States to intervene and others to negotiate the release of the two Michaels.
Furthermore, we’ve also seen mainland China engage in espionage at the expense of intellectual property in Canada.
What steps and guarantees has the Carney government taken to ensure that China no longer engages in intellectual espionage in Canada?
The government makes sure that security and international espionage within our land are closely monitored by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, CSIS, and by our security forces. This applies to China, as it applies to any other country in the world.
Canadians can be reassured that the government is aware that it is a possibility. We are living in a more and more dangerous world. We’re aware of that and are taking all appropriate measures.
