Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

FELDSTED -- Trudeau is “disappointed”; Freeland is “very angry”. That should have the Chinese Communist Party sounding alarms and running for the bomb shelters

Justin Trudeau and China's Xi Jinping
Trudeau says he’s ‘disappointed’ by China’s charges against Michael Kovrig, Michael Spavor

By Katie Dangerfield ~~
Global News  ~~ June 19, 2020

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said he is “disappointed” in China’s decision to formally lay charges against Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, two Canadians who have been detained for well over a year on allegations of espionage. Speaking to the media, Trudeau said he is continuing to work with the Chinese government to send the “two Michaels home.”

... Trudeau was asked whether or not Canada has been “too soft” on China and should take a stronger negotiation tactic. The prime minister replied that Canada is using the “appropriate tactics and actions” in order to bring the two men back.

“... we are using a wide range of public and private measures to ensure that everything is being done to get these Michaels home,” Trudeau said. He added that “we do expect both Michaels will come back.”

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on Friday said she was “very angry” to learn about China’s decisions.
 

* * * * * * * * * *

What is a charge of “suspicion of spying”?

No civilized nation imprisons people on suspicion. Go get the evidence to prove suspicions or let the accused go. Only political prisoners face disrespect for the fundamental principles of justice.

Trudeau is “disappointed”; Freeland is “very angry”. That should have the Chinese Communist Party sounding alarms and running for the bomb shelters.

Canada’s response should be swift and clear.

Our government should advise China that Meng Wanzhou will spend time awaiting an extradition hearing in the Frazer Valley Institute for Women until Kovrig and Spavor are released.  Further, if they are not released within 30 days, Wanzhou will be charged with participating in a criminal conspiracy to corrupt Canadian government and judicial officials.

We have just had a clear look at how much influence our Prime Minister can bring to bear with a seat on the UN Security Council. If he or anyone else dreams that the Security Council venue makes one iota of difference to China’s geopolitical ambitions, they are dreaming.

Either our government plays skillful chess in the big leagues or picks up its checkerboard and comes home. The latter is preferable since we have an outbreak of virus-related crisis; the number and intensity is increasing daily. Actions (and failures to act) have consequences.

Years of elbowing important issues off the table in favour of those that provide photo ops and appear appealing in the media. Eventually the neglected issues undermine everything and the government with it.

John Feldsted ... is a political commentator, consultant, and strategist. He makes his home in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NDP Government Blames Everyone but Themselves

The federal government has announced new measures to support British Columbia's forestry sector, including $65 million in funding for projects across the province. While any support is welcome, it falls far short of the level of assistance other provinces have secured for key industries. Conservative Forests Critic Ward Stamer says the NDP government needs to take responsibility for its mismanagement of B.C.’s forest industry instead of trying to pass on the blame. Despite promising to create more jobs in the forest sector, the NDP government has overseen the loss of thousands of forestry jobs and 21 mill closures which have devastated communities. “If Premier Eby spent more time addressing the regulatory issues impacting the forestry sector than he did complaining about the federal government, we would not be in the position we are now,” said Stamer. “And instead of trying to place the blame for mill closures on Donald Trump, Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar should t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tourists Rack Up $200M in Unpaid Health Bills While BC Patients Wait Years for Care

While British Columbians wait years for basic medical care, the NDP government has allowed non-residents to rack up $200.6 million in unpaid health bills since 2020-2021. New research from SecondStreet.org, obtained through a freedom of information request, revealed that people from outside Canada are coming to BC, receiving health services, and leaving without paying their bills.  The losses span every health region in the province. "British Columbians are not guaranteed timely access to healthcare, be it treatment or diagnostics, and this situation continues to deteriorate under the NDP," said Anna Kindy, MLA for North Island and Critic for Health. "Taxpayers are footing the bill for tourists' health treatments to the tune of over $200 million, enough to cover over 21,000 hip replacements in this province while British Columbians wait months to years for that surgery.” The research found BC has the worst record of any province in Canada examined so far. Under a dec...
Post a Comment
Read more

NDP Finance Minister Given "F" on Report Card by Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centres and Official Opposition Finance Critic, released the following statement in response to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation's 2026 Finance Minister Report Card, which ranked BC Finance Minister Brenda Bailey dead last among provincial finance ministers in Canada with an overall grade of "F":  "British Columbians didn't need a report card to know things are headed in the wrong direction. They see it every time they pay their bills, try to buy a home, or watch another government deficit pile up. But now an independent national organization has confirmed that NDP Brenda Bailey is the worst-rated finance minister in Canada. "After nearly a decade of decline under this NDP government, British Columbia has become a province where people pay more, government borrows more, and families get less in return. We have some of the highest debt in the country, repeated credit downgrades, and no credible plan to get our finances back on...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more