JOHN FELDSTED -- Either the US Justice Department has sufficient evidence to justify extradition in which case a hearing should be held forthwith, or it lacks evidence which should result in her immediate release

Canada’s deteriorating relationship with China takes its toll on farmers, ranchers

Carrie Tait ~~ Globe and Mail ~~ June 30, 2019

Graham Friesen is sitting in a comfy leather office chair in the front row of a cattle auction in rural Alberta, bidding on bulls and heifers with subtle head nods and fist shakes. He’s a cattle broker, making him a regular fixture at sales like this one last week in Strathmore, Alta., where about 30 others have gathered for the auction or to just gossip over pancakes and coffee in the lobby.

China banned Canadian beef and pork imports two days prior, injecting confusion, frustration and anger into conversations with those in the livestock industry who say that they are, once again, coming under unjust pressure because of frayed diplomatic relationships around the globe.

“World politics is dirty,” Mr. Friesen says as cattle plod through the sale ring. “We’re losing at that game.”

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There is something off about the arrest and detention of Meng Wanzhou – it does not pass a smell test.

Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou

Under our legal system, prosecutors need to have a case before they issue an arrest warrant. If a prosecutor does not have a case he can take to court, he or she can interview a suspect, but generally cannot keep him under arrest for more than a few hours.

Meng Wanzhou was arrested on December 1, 2018. She has been granted bail with stiff conditions including giving up her passport and paying for 24-hour monitoring, but essentially, she is under house arrest. The fundamental principles of justice do not appear to have been met.

The accused is entitled to know what the charges are and what evidence is held against her. There should not be unreasonable delays. Seven months have passed, and an extradition hearing is scheduled for January 2020. That is 13 months after the arrest.

Either the US Justice Department has sufficient evidence to justify extradition in which case a hearing should be held forthwith, or it lacks evidence which should result in her immediate release.

Our government should not be pleading with the US to intervene on our behalf with China. We should insist that the US government either extradite Meng Wanzhou within 30 days or we will release her.

The United States has had over half a year to prepare its case – it is put up or shut up time. We are not helpless; just clueless.

The media silence following the G-20 summit in Japan reflects Canada’s loss of stature. We are ignored or ridiculed rather than respected. Government ineptness has come home to roost and the Meng Wanzhou affair is part of it.

Announcing piously that we are only following the rule of law is ridiculous when the SNC-Lavalin affair is hovering in the background, two senior cabinet ministers have been tossed from the Liberal Caucus, Clerk of the Privy Council and the Prime Minister’s Principle Secretary have resigned and a very serious charge against Mark Norman was suddenly dropped.

G-20 leaders are aware of what is going on in Canada and are not impressed ... nor are Canadians. 

John Feldsted

Political Consultant & Strategist

Winnipeg, Manitoba