Recently, the world learned from the extradition trial of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of China’s huawei, that her husband and children were granted a special waiver by the Canadian government late last year to enter the country for visits, and that they had a fancy restaurant to celebrate Christmas. In contrast, the two Canadian detainees in Chinese custody are still being denied family and legal visitation rights.
Because of the new coronavirus outbreak, Canada has closed its borders to foreigners unless they wish to visit a Canadian citizen or resident in their immediate family. Although Meng is not a Canadian citizen or resident, the Canadian government has allowed her husband and children to enter the country for visits based on humane considerations. Meng also chartered a restaurant to celebrate Christmas with a dozen people.
The court also mentioned that when Meng thought there was hope for her release after a court hearing last year, a China Southern Airlines plane had been chartered and was ready to pick her up and take her back to China. High-end boutiques in Vancouver also had reserved exclusive space for her to shop in peace.
These special offers surprised many, and the Trudeau government was criticized for treating Meng so well while doing nothing to save two Canadians – Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.
Raquel Dancho, the federal Conservative MP for immigration, said the decision was outrageous: “Two Canadians who have no basic human rights, who have been given very little consular access, and who have not even been able to see their families or lawyers. The Liberal government has done nothing but roll out the red carpet for Meng’s family and welcome their entire family here for Christmas. I don’t think any Canadian would feel comfortable with that.”
Rob Oliphant, parliamentary secretary for Foreign Affairs Canada, said everything was done in accordance with the law: “Immigration is legally able to provide travel waivers for reunification with immediate family members temporarily residing in Canada, and entry is all following health guidelines. I know a lot of people are angry, but Canada is a country governed by the rule of law, and we don’t interfere with the responsibilities we’re supposed to fulfill just because we hate one person.”
But Jack Harris, the federal NDP foreign affairs critic, said the Immigration Department’s decision to grant travel waivers is highly discretionary and many applicants have been denied: “It’s always nice to see a lot of people who have waited months and months and made the case to come to Canada to be reunited with their families and may still end up being denied. The case of Meng’s family entering the country is definitely not the decision of a mere immigration officer, it must have been a political consideration that was discussed by Trudeau’s cabinet.”
Canada’s foreign ministry said it had “reached an agreement” with China that would allow the two Canadians to receive “increased family and consular visitation rights.” But so far, Canadian consular staff have been able to visit the two men only once a month, and their families have still not been able to visit China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press conference on the 14th that the Chinese authorities had agreed, at the request of the Canadian side and on humanitarian grounds, to allow Commingkai and Spavor to speak to their families on the phone during Christmas. But when asked by reporters whether the families of the two men would be allowed to visit China, Zhao Lijian did not give any commitment.
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