Trudeau says Canada has 'extremely high standards' for extradition treaty with China
Critics say there is danger for dissidents if Ottawa signs treaty with Beijing
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada will maintain high standards as it negotiates an extradition treaty with China, while critics raise concerns about that country's weak record on human rights.
"Canada has extremely high standards on extradition treaties," Trudeau said to reporters at the National Press Theatre inOttawa.
"We have a very, very rigorous process, that conforms with the expectations and values of Canadians, and that continues."
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The Liberals announced last week negotiations have begunon a treaty that would allow the Chinese government to pursue someone on Canadian soil for crimes committed in China.
The issue was raisedWednesday in Question Period, whereInterim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose calledTrudeau's approach "shockingly naive."
"Our allies like Australia, the U.S. and New Zealand don't have treaties of this type with China," Ambrose said.
"The Chinese government has orchestrated thousands of cyberattacks against Canada and, according to CSIS and the RCMP, has sent foreign agents into Canada without our permission," she said.
"Canadians expect the prime minister to act in our national interest. What possible benefit to Canada would an extradition with China provide us?"
Trudeau said his government has succeeded in resolving consular cases in Chinaand in increasing access to the Chinese market after the "hot and cold" relationship with Beijing in the Harper years.
"The benefit to Canada is having a high-level security dialogue where we can talk about issues that are important to us and issues that are important to the Chinese government," Trudeausaid."We continue to be strong in our values, in our principles and our expectations of anyone we engage with around the world.".
Chinese Premier Li Kegiangarrivedin Ottawa Wednesday afternoon, three weeks after Trudeau visited China. The two are expected to talk about increased economic co-operation between the two countries, but human rights remain an issue.
'What are the values involved here?'
NDP Leader TomMulcairsaid the Liberals had recently said there could be no extradition treaty with China as long as that country had the death penalty.
"Just a few short months ago, [Immigration Minister JohnMcCallum]said there's no way we can have an extradition treaty with China as long as it maintains the death penalty,"Mulcairsaid."Well, now that seems to have changed also overnight."
"So, what are the values involved here? What are the fundamental things that we try to protect here when we sign a treaty that would allow someone to be sent to a country that has the death penalty?"
McCallumdenied that he had rejected the idea of a treaty.
"I think the issue is that we have a constitutional rule that we shall not have the death penalty and we shall not send people to the death penalty, and that was and is the main issue,"McCallumsaid."That issue remains as it was before."
Trudeausaid his government is committed to opposing the death penalty.In February, the Liberals announced Canada would be obligated to intervene on behalf ofany citizen facing execution abroad, including the United States.
Values on trial
Conservative MP JasonKenneysaid an extradition treaty with China would be a breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
He said China has "one of the worst human rights records in the world"not only because it hasthe death penalty, but also for itstorture and prosecution of political and religious dissidents.
"To formalize an extradition treaty is Canada giving itsseal of approval, effectively, to China's judicial system, which would be a clear violation of our belief in the rule of law and human rights,"Kenneysaid.
There are ways for Canada to send Chinese nationals back to China with review by Canadian judges, he said.
"There is a legitimate concern that Chinese dissidents living in Canada will feel lesssecureif they're subjectto extradition."
Quid pro quo
Kenney is among those who have suggested the Liberal government might have made concessions to China in order to secure the recent release of Canadian Kevin Garratt.
Garratthad been detained since August 2014 and was charged with spying and stealing state secrets in January. He returned to Vancouver last week after beingconvicted, released on bail and deported. His release coincided with the announcement that talks had started on an extradition treaty.
While he doesn't have first-hand knowledgeof theGarrattcase,Kenneysaid dealing with China often involves trade-offs.
"All I'm saying is the when you're dealing with the Chinese government, nothing happens by accident,"Kenneysaid. "There's always back channel discussions andquid pro quosfor various things"
The Liberalgovernment has said it madeno concessions to bring Garratt home.
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