Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has dismissed a letter sent by 19 prominent Canadians demanding Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou be freed as part of a deal to lessen tensions with China..The 19, including former foreign affairs ministers Lloyd Axworthy and Lawrence Cannon, wrote a letter to Trudeau this week saying Justice Minister David Lametti should intervene to free Meng..“I respect these distinguished Canadians who put forward that letter but I deeply disagree with them,” Trudeau said at a press conference Thursday..“They’re wrong in their approach.”.Canadian authorities took Meng into custody over U.S. allegations of lying to a bank to violate sanctions on Iran, and her extradition case is now before a B.C court..The letter pointed out Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are likely to remain in Chinese prison until Meng’s extradition case is settled. The two were detained in China shortly after Mengââââ was detained in Vancouver in 2018..Trudeau said he will not allow China get get away with hostage-trading diplomacy..“The reality is releasing Meng Wanzhou to resolve a short-term problem would endanger thousands of Canadians who travel to China and around the world by letting countries know that a government can have political influence over Canada by randomly arresting Canadians,” Trudeau said..“We need to continue to be absolutely crystal clear that Canada has an independent judiciary and those processes will unfold independently of any political pressure, including by foreign governments,” Trudeau said..“We deplore what China did.”. POLL: Many Albertans say they will ignore Christmas COVID lockdown .Tory leadership candidate Leslyn Lewis blasted Trudeau’s handling of the situation..“The Trudeau government has completely miscalculated the complexity of the ongoing US-China trade war. As a result, Justin Trudeau has put Canada’s trade, economic and national interests at risk,” Lewis said in a statement after news of the letter was reported..“We need to recalibrate our relations with China. We need effective leadership from the top and smart diplomacy. Under my leadership as Prime Minister, I would do things differently with China.”.In response to the letter, fellow leadership candidate Erin O’Toole tweeted: “This is incredibly naive. Canada cannot allow our principled approach to justice and the rule of law to be compromised by Communist Chinese influence.”.Of the letter, former B.C. premier Ujjal Dosanjh said: “Respectfully I am shocked and embarrassed.”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has dismissed a letter sent by 19 prominent Canadians demanding Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou be freed as part of a deal to lessen tensions with China..The 19, including former foreign affairs ministers Lloyd Axworthy and Lawrence Cannon, wrote a letter to Trudeau this week saying Justice Minister David Lametti should intervene to free Meng..“I respect these distinguished Canadians who put forward that letter but I deeply disagree with them,” Trudeau said at a press conference Thursday..“They’re wrong in their approach.”.Canadian authorities took Meng into custody over U.S. allegations of lying to a bank to violate sanctions on Iran, and her extradition case is now before a B.C court..The letter pointed out Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are likely to remain in Chinese prison until Meng’s extradition case is settled. The two were detained in China shortly after Mengââââ was detained in Vancouver in 2018..Trudeau said he will not allow China get get away with hostage-trading diplomacy..“The reality is releasing Meng Wanzhou to resolve a short-term problem would endanger thousands of Canadians who travel to China and around the world by letting countries know that a government can have political influence over Canada by randomly arresting Canadians,” Trudeau said..“We need to continue to be absolutely crystal clear that Canada has an independent judiciary and those processes will unfold independently of any political pressure, including by foreign governments,” Trudeau said..“We deplore what China did.”. POLL: Many Albertans say they will ignore Christmas COVID lockdown .Tory leadership candidate Leslyn Lewis blasted Trudeau’s handling of the situation..“The Trudeau government has completely miscalculated the complexity of the ongoing US-China trade war. As a result, Justin Trudeau has put Canada’s trade, economic and national interests at risk,” Lewis said in a statement after news of the letter was reported..“We need to recalibrate our relations with China. We need effective leadership from the top and smart diplomacy. Under my leadership as Prime Minister, I would do things differently with China.”.In response to the letter, fellow leadership candidate Erin O’Toole tweeted: “This is incredibly naive. Canada cannot allow our principled approach to justice and the rule of law to be compromised by Communist Chinese influence.”.Of the letter, former B.C. premier Ujjal Dosanjh said: “Respectfully I am shocked and embarrassed.”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
