Canada has been without an ambassador to China for 6 months. What's the holdup?
Canada has been without an ambassador to China since the end of 2021, when Dominic Barton moved out of the Beijing offices.
The government says, while a representative will be named in “due course,” Canada continues to engage with China at the “highest levels” in the meantime.
“Minister Joly recently spoke with her counterpart, Wang Yi, where they discussed the challenges of recent years, including cases of arbitrary detention, and the importance of frank dialogue,” reads a statement to CTVNews.ca from a spokesperson for the foreign affairs minister.
“With strong cultural and people-to-people ties, they discussed avenues of collaboration between the two countries on areas of mutual interest.”
But former ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques says the notable absence shows the prime minister “does not understand” the value of a strong diplomatic presence on the ground.
“Having an ambassador gives you intelligence… because here’s a person who can have access to high-level [information] that other people at the embassy can’t,” he said. “You are depriving yourself from all that useful information.”
Barton publicly announced his resignation on Dec. 6, 2021, just months after helping to secure the release of former diplomat and entrepreneur Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.
The two men were arbitrarily detained and held in a Chinese jail for more than 1,000 days. Their arrests are widely seen as retaliation for the Vancouver arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition request.
Those events launched what would become nearly three years of icy relations between Canada and China.
While Meng’s case has been dropped and the Michaels have returned to Canada, tensions mounted in recent months when the government announced it would ban China’s Huawei Technologies and ZET, another Chinese company, from participating in Canada’s 5G wireless networks.
Ottawa cited national security concerns as the key reason for the ban.
Following the announcement, China’s representative in Canada swiftly condemned the move stating that Ottawa was “acting in collusion with the U.S. to suppress Chinese enterprises.”
“Canada's so-called security concerns are nothing but a cover for political manipulation… The erroneous actions of the Canadian side will certainly harm Canada’s own interests and international image,” a series of tweets read.
Saint-Jacques said there’s an enhanced necessity to appoint an ambassador as Canada develops an Indo-Pacific strategy.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly’s mandate letter asks that the strategy seek to deepen diplomatic, economic and defence partnerships, and international assistance in the region.
She announced the creation of an Indo-Pacific Advisory Committee on June 9, to provide recommendations on the overall strategy. Barton is listed as a member.
The former ambassador says, while he respects the perspectives of the appointees, he still considers the committee a stall tactic.
“It’s another tactic to delay making a decision, and trying to give some kind of cover. It’s high time that the government make a decision, ” he said.
Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic Michael Chong echoed a similar sentiment in a statement to CTVNews.ca.
"We still await the government's new policy on China, which has been promised since 2019, but never delivered - and now delayed yet again with the government's recent announcement to consult further by creating a special committee,” he said.
The Indo-Pacific strategy is a notable shift away from the government’s longstanding focus on the Asia-Pacific region specifically, and reflects a need to consider issues beyond just those associated with just China.
Chong added that the absence of a Canadian ambassador in China is “yet another example of this government’s mismanagement of Canada-China relations.”
“Over the last six and a half years this government has been in office, it has not had representation in Beijing for more than a year. The government has had three ambassadors and had one resign in scandal - not good signs for one of Canada's most fraught and significant foreign relationships,” he said.
The NDP’s foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson called the delay “unacceptable” and said it signals to other countries Canada’s failing to prioritize foreign policy.
“Canadians expect to be represented by diplomats who will stand up for them and our interests abroad,” she said in a statement to CTVNews.ca.
“This failure is part of a growing trend where Canada's status and role in the world have become increasingly diminished through our diplomacy, peacekeeping efforts, humanitarian aid, and multilateralism.”
Saint-Jacques warned this trend could lead to missed alliances pointing to the recently announced Partners in the Blue Pacific initiative to help Pacific Island countries address climate change, security, and Chinese influence in the region.
The U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the United Kingdom have signed on to the agreement.
“There were probably people in Washington discussing this who said what’s the value-added of having Canada? They are adrift at sea, ” he said.
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
3 law officers serving warrant are killed, 5 wounded in shootout at North Carolina home, police say
Three officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday at a North Carolina home, police said.
'Shocked and concerned': Calgary principal charged with possession of child pornography
A Calgary elementary school principal has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities announced Monday.
Health authority confirms cockroaches at B.C. hospital, insists they 'do not bite'
The Vancouver Island Health Authority is downplaying what staff describe as a cockroach infestation in a medical unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
Toronto police arrest 12 people, lay 102 charges in major credit card fraud scheme
Toronto police say 12 people are facing a combined 102 charges in connection with an investigation into a major credit fraud scheme.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Britney and Jamie Spears settlement avoids long, potentially ugly and revealing trial
Britney Spears and her father Jamie Spears will avoid what could have been a long, ugly and revealing trial with a settlement of the lingering issues in the court conservatorship that controlled her life and financial decisions for nearly 14 years.
WATCH 'Double whammy': What happens if you don't file your taxes by the deadline
The clock is ticking ahead of the deadline to file a 2023 income tax return. A personal finance expert explains why you should get them done -- even if you owe more than you can pay.
Local Spotlight
Canada's oldest hat store still going strong after 90 years
Since 1932, Montreal's Henri Henri has been filled to the brim with every possible kind of hat, from newsboy caps to feathered fedoras.
Road closed in Oak Bay, B.C., so elephant seal can cross
Police in Oak Bay, B.C., had to close a stretch of road Sunday to help an elephant seal named Emerson get safely back into the water.
B.C. breweries take home awards at World Beer Cup
Out of more than 9,000 entries from over 2,000 breweries in 50 countries, a handful of B.C. brews landed on the podium at the World Beer Cup this week.
Kitchener family says their 10-year-old needs life-saving drug that cost $600,000
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.
Haida Elder suing Catholic Church and priest, hopes for 'healing and reconciliation'
The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a proposed class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fergus, Ont. man feels nickel-and-dimed for $0.05 property tax bill
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.