OTTAWA (LifeSiteNews) – Canadian Members of Parliament voted on Monday to revive a special committee concerned with Canada-China relations.
Vote result: The @CPC_HQ #OppositionMotion (Special Committee on the Canada-People’s Republic of China relationship) was adopted. #cdnpoli
Yeas: 168 ✅
Nays: 155❌ pic.twitter.com/r1Oo54s6d5— In the Chamber (@HoCChamber) May 16, 2022
The Liberals voted against the motion, but the Bloc Quebecois MPs and left-wing NDP MPs supported the Conservatives.
The last Canada-China committee was set up to a investigate dealings between the two nations following the December 10, 2018 detentions of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, two Canadians seized by Chinese authorities in what is widely recognized as retaliation for Canada arresting Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at the behest of American law enforcement earlier that month.
The current iteration of the committee has been set up to address “China’s Communist government [that] threatens and targets Chinese-Canadian pro-democracy and human rights advocates and poses a threat to Canada’s national security.”
The Conservatives believe that such a committee is important due to the fact that China and Russia signed a pact just before the conflict in Ukraine began.
The motion makes it clear that nothing about the Chinese ethnicity is being considered, but only dealings with the Chinese Communist regime.
Please SIGN this petition calling on Hong Kong leader John Lee to cease all intimidation of Cardinal Joseph Zen following his arrest for supporting pro-democracy demonstrators.
Cardinal Joseph Zen, the Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, was arrested by the pro-China security police in Hong Kong in a major escalation of intimidation against pro-freedom activists in the region.
Zen was one of four people arrested on May 11th on suspicion of "colluding with foreign forces", with the 90-year-old's detention marking the first high-profile move by Hong Kong's new Chief Executive, John Lee.
The Hong Kong security police targeted Zen as a trustee of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which provided “legal, medical, psychological and emergency financial assistance” to those involved in the 2019 protests against the government’s Extradition Law Amendment Bill, which allows prisoners to be transferred to China for trial.
Cardinal Zen has since been released, but his passport was confiscated to prevent him leaving Hong Kong.
The arrest was made possible under the terms of Hong Kong’s draconian national security law, passed in 2020, which Zen warned would be used to silence the Church.
The outspoken cardinal previously confessed that he was prepared to go to prison under the terms of the new law, saying, “If right and proper words were considered against their law, I will endure all the suing, trials, and arrests.”
Cardinal Zen is a hero to Hong Kongers, and needs the world to stand with him today.
SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition calling on Hong Kong leader John Lee to cease all intimidation of Cardinal Zen today.
The people of Hong Kong, including Cardinal Zen, have lived under the shadow of Beijing since 1997, and know personally how oppressive Chinese Communist Party rule is.
This arrest of a Catholic cardinal by communist authorities in Hong Kong is a stark reminder of the harsh realities of life for all citizens of the region.
Cardinal Zen's plight demands the attention of all people of good-will, as his spirit of resistance in the face of tyranny continues to inspire new generations of Hong Kongers to defy the horrors of communist rule.
Please stand with Cardinal Zen today - SIGN and SHARE this petition calling for an end to the intimidatory tactics of the Chinese Communist Party's proxy leaders in Hong Kong.
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The motion reads: “Canadians of Chinese descent have made immeasurable contributions to Canada, and the people of China are part of an ancient civilization that has contributed much to humanity… But Beijing’s communist government continues to threaten and target pro-democracy and human rights advocates in the Chinese community here in Canada. Beijing’s communist leadership also poses a threat to Canada’s national interest and security, as well as to our values.”
The motion also included a unique provision that might make filibustering difficult for Liberals who hope to obstruct the parliamentary process. The motion reads: “…every question necessary for the disposal of the motion shall be put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment.”
It may mean that this was included to ensure that all questions brought forth will be heard in a timely manner as part of the stipulations to participate in the committee, which would make endless stalling by way of filibustering difficult.
In March, the Liberals and the NDP struck a deal wherein the desires of the NDP would be considered strongly if confidence votes went in favour of the Liberals.
Justin Trudeau announces deal with NDP for support on confidence votes till 2025. pic.twitter.com/0Tspa6Ks6y
— Efron Monsanto 🇨🇦🚜🚛 (@realmonsanto) March 22, 2022
While voting for a special committee motion is not a confidence vote, a look into the relations between Trudeau’s government and China could prove troublesome for the Liberals. It was for some unexpected that the NDP would vote for a committee that could work against the best interests of the Liberal Party given that they have a minority government.
David Mulroney, a former Canadian ambassador to China, told LifeSiteNews that the committee is important because of China’s targeting influence on Canada.
“The committee is important because China appears to be stepping up its influence operations in Canada,” Mulroney said via social media.
“Beijing is almost certainly interfering in Canadian politics, encouraging the belief within the Chinese diaspora community in Canada that efforts to push back against interference are motivated by anti-Chinese sentiment.”