cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/53062409
Prime Minister Mark Carney told a closed-door fundraiser crowd Monday night that floor-crossing MP Michael Ma represents “Liberal values,” after the former Conservative politician drew controversy over comments about forced labour in China.
In video obtained by Global News, Carney told the crowd at the GTA fundraiser that the Liberals were “glad” to welcome Ma to their ranks after the MP crossed from Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives in December.
“(Ma) joined, he said, because he was guided by the values of building up others, delivering results — he’s a results-oriented individual — and choosing the path that creates opportunities for Canadians,” Carney said.
“These are fundamental Liberal values, fundamental Canadian values and that’s why Michael Ma has found a home in our party.”
[...]
The $1,775 per ticket fundraiser was closed to the media and the public, but Global News obtained video from a source who was in the room. The material reviewed by Global includes extended speeches from both Carney and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson.
Ma was forced to apologize publicly last week after grilling a witness about forced labour in China at a House of Commons committee meeting on electric vehicles. The witness was suggesting that Chinese-made electric vehicles include parts produced by slave labour.
[...]
Ma demanded to know if Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa, had witnessed the practice with her own eyes.
“Have you witnessed forced labour in (the Chinese province of) Shenzhen? Have you witnessed forced labour? Just a short answer — have you witnessed forced labour in Shenzhen, yes or no?” Ma asked, suggesting the alternative was “hearsay.”
Ma’s brusque remarks were initially misinterpreted by media outlets as referring to the western province of Xinjiang, which had been a major topic during the meeting. Human rights abuses against Xinjiang’s Uyghur Muslim population have been well-documented by international monitoring groups.
Several hours after his questions, Ma issued an apology and indicated he “inadvertently came across as dismissive of the serious issue of forced labour.”
[...]
Carney has put an emphasis on diversifying Canadian trade away from the United States [...] That includes thawing relations with China and other economically important but dubiously reliable partners. Canada-China affairs have been frosty in recent years, after Beijing detained Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor on national security grounds — largely perceived as retaliation after Ottawa arrested Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant.
[...]
What was the answer? Had the witness witnessed forced labor there? Seems like a reasonable question. But the manner of asking the question matters.
Regardless, Carney needs Ma as he has a minority government he's nearly made into a majority. And it's not such a terrible thing to have various perspectives in the party.
This is not a 'perspective' as there is strong evidence of forced labour in China. In addition, Carney himself called out China as Canada's biggest security threat less than a year ago.
And a question like, 'Had the witness witnessed forced labor there?, isn't reasonable but disingenuous, ignorant, and right out of the Chinese Communist Party's playbook.
Let's be honest here. None of this is journalism that speaks truth to power. This is conservative owned and backed media playing up nothingburgers to stink-palm the Liberals according to conservative communications strategies. Just like the Carney quip to the grassy narrows protestor.
Its derision politics. Our media landscape blows.
It's an absurdly weird statement to distract from the fact of Chinese forced labour.
The answer you're looking for is yes China uses forced labour, Uighur, non Han, and political opponents. Yes we are going to continue to buy/sell from China because they are too big of an economy to ignore. Carney has spent the last year building trade and security alliances to lessen our reliance on hegemons and hyperscalers. It sucks, but like Carney said we have to face the world that is out there, not the one we wish it were. Our biggest ally has turned against us and we are managing amazingly well considering the massive pressure we are under.