QUESTION PERIOD — Foreign Affairs
Canada-China Relations
June 9, 2021
Your Honour, we will certainly try to adhere to that admonition and we hope our answers will be equally concise and direct and not setting the government agenda.
My question, government leader, concerns the ongoing detainment in Chinese jails of Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. The two Michaels and their families continue to be in the thoughts of Canadians over 900 days after they were illegally jailed. In March, these Canadians were subjected to so-called trials that were nothing but a sham. Our ambassador to China, Dominic Barton, was absent while their trials were taking place. This week, we learned from Minister Garneau that Ambassador Barton is in regular contact, leader, with Chinese tech company Huawei to find a way to free the two Michaels.
Leader, why is Ambassador Barton negotiating with Huawei on freeing the two Michaels when they were unlawfully jailed by the Chinese communist regime? Is this approach the reason it’s going to take quite a long time to release them, as the Prime Minister told Ryerson University last week?
Thank you for your question. The short answer is — and I’ll try to be brief — Canada is working and using multiple approaches and multiple pathways to secure the release of the two Michaels who have been detained, as you put it, unreasonably, arbitrarily and illegally. This includes using diplomatic efforts with our allies, notably the President of the United States Joe Biden, and exploring all ways in which — while remaining true to the long-term interests of Canada and indeed all those who would otherwise be victimized and subject to the arbitrary coercive actions of regimes like China — to secure the release of our two Michaels. It is a fact that, to date, China has been intransigent. That does not mean, however, that Canada is letting up one wit in terms of its efforts to release them.
The short answer to me sounded like it was yes.
Leader, is it usual practice for Canadian governmental officials, including ambassadors or high commissioners, to negotiate with private companies on the well-being of Canadian citizens abroad, especially those illegally jailed? As far as you know, has this ever happened before?
Leader, could you tell us if Ambassador Barton negotiated allowing Ms. Meng Wanzhou’s family to join her in Vancouver for Christmas while the two Michaels sat in jail? How can the Trudeau government possibly think that fiasco is fair?
Senator, thank you for your question. Canada is working hard to secure the two Michaels and using all appropriate measures to do so. I have no information about the matters that you raised. The important thing, and all Canadians would agree, is that we use all methods possible to secure their release.
