TORONTO — The relationship between Canada and China continues to deteriorate following the trials of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, which were conducted under a shroud of secrecy in Beijing last week.
Now Paul Heinbecker, a former Canadian ambassador to Germany and representative to the United Nations, says things could get worse for Canada-China relations.
Eight foreigners suspected of espionage, subversion or terrorism were removed from Canada last year, according to the federal government.
The department of Public Safety would not reveal the countries that the individuals were acting on behalf of, citing privacy laws, nor the specific nature of their activities in Canada.
“However, we can tell you that in 2020, the CBSA [Canada Border Services Agency] removed eight individuals deemed inadmissible on security grounds,” Public Safety spokesman Tim Warmington said in a statement. “Removal on security grounds may include persons who are found inadmissible for espionage, subversion, terrorism and/or for membership in groups involved in such activities.”
Only 8?
The Two Michaels — Canadian political pawns Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig — have had their sham trials in communist China and are now waiting for the Godot of their sentencings.
The time is long overdue, therefore, to play hardball with Meng Wanzhou, the Chinese hi-tech scion arrested by Canadian authorities at the behest of the United States for extradition on alleged serious fraud charges.
After Canada arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition request on Dec. 1, 2018, Beijing warned Canada of “serious consequences” if she wasn’t freed. It carried through with its threat a few days later, when it detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. After that, the regime blocked Canadian agricultural imports to China.
Ottawa has adopted stronger language of late over the arrest of the two Canadians, in contrast to its earlier, noticeably softer tone, which typically praised China for the economic benefit it presents before calling out the regime’s hostilities.
Canada’s China class is well looked after by PM Blackie McBlackface
Six outcomes attributed to social media use are examined: lost sleep, trouble concentrating on tasks or activities, less physical activity, feeling anxious or depressed, feeling envious of the lives of others, and feeling frustrated or angry. Among all social media users aged 15 to 64, around one-fifth reported that in the previous 12 months, they had lost sleep (19%), gotten less physical activity (22%), or had trouble concentrating on tasks or activities (18%) as a result of their social media use. Around one in eight users (12% to 14%) reported feeling anxious or depressed, frustrated or angry, or envious of the lives of others.
It might seem so obvious a point that one might overlook it when evaluating what we already know about the climate change plan the Conservatives will campaign on in the next general election but here it is anyway: Conservatives must win votes from people who did not vote for them in 2019 or in 2015.
And poll after poll after poll has indicated that one of the primary reasons voters chose another party over the Conservatives was climate change. Non-Conservative voters do not believe Conservatives are serious about climate change or, only slightly less worse, that the party’s plans to do anything about it were or are credible.
Premier Doug Ford said it would be “absolutely terrible” if Ontario was forced to go back into lockdown because of the third wave of COVID-19 and that it’s critical people remain cautious and vigilant to protect themselves.
During an interview on SiriusXM’s Canada Talks Wednesday, Trudeau told host Peter Mansbridge he wished he had handled some things in the early days of the pandemic differently, but when he closed the border wasn’t one of them.
One of P. G. Wodehouse’s best quips concerned the “confusion of ideas” between A.B. Spottsworth and one of the lions he was hunting, which resulted in him making the obituary column. “He thought the lion was dead and the lion thought it wasn’t.”
A confusion of ideas explains Erin O’Toole’s problems with his party membership: He thought him saying “the climate change debate is over” made it so, and the grassroots thought it didn’t.
Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Tuesday the first federal budget in two years, which will be presented on April 19, would offer the support that is needed to those struggling during the pandemic, plus a plan to boost growth.
Health Canada is in the process of adding a warning about a rare possible side-effect of blood clots from the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine but is still certain the vaccine is safe and effective against COVID-19.
The department’s chief medical adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma says the warning comes on the heels of a similar warning in Europe last week but doesn’t change Health Canada’s analysis that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh its risks.
During Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Week at the University of Calgary in February 2021, the Faculty of Law’s EDI Committee held a research-a-thon where students undertook research on the law’s treatment of equity, diversity and inclusion issues. Over the next few weeks, we will be publishing a series of ABlawg posts that are the product of this initiative. This post is the first in the series, which also closely coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination next week on March 21. The theme this year is “Youth Standing Up Against Racism”, which fits well with this initiative.
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole says the Conservative Party of Canada is not a party of climate change deniers, telling members the debate is over. True North’s Andrew Lawton points out that party leaders don’t get to direct the base, as Conservative convention delegates showed O’Toole.
Tar & feathers.
Burger King is the first quick-service restaurant in Canada to put the award-winning, plant-based Impossible Foods patty on its menu nationwide.
“The Whopper is an icon, and we know how much our guests love its unique, flame-grilled taste. But, we also know those guests – and really, all Canadians – are always looking for more choice, and are increasingly interested in options without beef,” says Matt Wright, General Manager, Burger King Canada. “That’s why we’re thrilled to have worked with the team at Impossible Foods to create a burger that is truly just as juicy and delicious as the classic Whopper.”
Justin Trudeau seems to love nothing more than getting some tears to well up in his eyes and solemnly apologizing for Canada’s past.
He has no problem calling Canada’s history racist and prejudiced, and even accused Canada of being complicit in an ongoing genocide – which would of course include the time he’s been in power as well.
