Radio Ads Listen and Share the Ads Send a Letter to Stephen Harper Donate close

Conservatives’ mismanagement of Canada-China relations is hurting Canada’s economy

Published on February 23, 2009

Share

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper must reach out to China directly and try to repair the damage he and his government have done to this important diplomatic and economic relationship, Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Bob Rae said today.

“In light of the United States stepping up its engagement with Beijing and the Prime Minister’s own former Foreign Affairs Minister acknowledging the deep divisions within the Conservative Party regarding China, Mr. Harper must change course,” said Mr. Rae. “Mr. Harper must shift his amateurish approach to Canada-China relations to one of nuance and professionalism.”

Last week, Mr. Harper’s former Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson publicly called for Canada to “be more deeply engaged with China” and confirmed there are deep divisions within the Conservative government regarding how to deal with Beijing.

Canada is not only losing ground to the United States, but is far behind countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Germany and Australia when it comes to its share of the Chinese import market.

Prime Minister Harper snubbed China by refusing to attend the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and this diplomatic blunder was compounded when Conservative Parliamentary Committee Chair Rob Anders publically compared the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the 1936 Games hosted by the Nazis.

Immigration and Citizenship Minister Jason Kenney has long been a vocal critic of the Chinese government. As well, for over nine months, then Conservative Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay insulted China by rejecting requests for an initial meeting with the Chinese Ambassador and by failing to send any Canadian Minister to China during that time.

A matter of weeks after being confirmed U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton traveled to China and met with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Premier Wen Jiabao. Discussions centered on the current global economic crisis, climate change and security, with an emphasis on the growing importance of U.S.-China relations.

Liberal International Trade Critic Scott Brison commented on the impact that the cool relationship between Ottawa and Beijing is having on the Canadian economy.

“During the first two years of Conservative government (2006 and 2007) Canada’s exports to China stagnated, barely keeping pace in proportion to China’s import growth,” he said. “In comparison, the United States increased its trade with China by 60 percent over those same years, far outpacing the growth of Chinese global imports and increasing their share of the Chinese market.

“Relations with Beijing are impacted greatly by the personal relationships between our countries. A new Liberal government will ensure that relations at the top are repaired. Successful trade initiatives such as the former Liberal government’s Team Canada Missions will be used to leverage those relationships into concrete economic activity,” he said.

News

February 9, 2010 | Liberals are working on Parliament Hill today by hosting a roundtable to address the need for a secure supply of the medical isotopes needed to treat cancer and cardiac patients.

Liberals are working on a solution to Canada’s medical isotope crisis

Liberals are working on Parliament Hill today by hosting a roundtable to address the need for a secure supply of the medical isotopes needed to treat cancer and cardiac patients.
February 9, 2010 | The Liberal Party of Canada is hosting a roundtable on Consular Affairs and the Rights of Canadians Abroad today as part of its series of meetings being held in Ottawa during the shut-down of Parliament by the Harper Government.

Liberals are working to protect the rights of Canadians abroad

The Liberal Party of Canada is hosting a roundtable on Consular Affairs and the Rights of Canadians Abroad today as part of its series of meetings being held in Ottawa during the shut-down of Parliament by the Harper Government.
February 8, 2010 | Acting Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault should immediately launch an investigation into political interference by the Harper government under the Access to Information Act, Liberal MPs said today.

Information Commissioner must probe Conservative interference

Acting Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault should immediately launch an investigation into political interference by the Harper government under the Access to Information Act, Liberal MPs said today.
February 8, 2010 | Liberals will be working tomorrow in Quebec City, as the Quebec caucus holds Winter meetings with important representatives of the region’s economic, technology, and research sectors. The mayor of Quebec City, Régis Labeaume, will also meet with the caucus.

Liberals are working in Quebec City

Liberals will be working tomorrow in Quebec City, as the Quebec caucus holds Winter meetings with important representatives of the region’s economic, technology, and research sectors. The mayor of Quebec City, Régis Labeaume, will also meet with the caucus.
February 8, 2010 | Liberals are continuing their work on Parliament Hill today by hosting a roundtable on how to make Canada’s health care system sustainable for generations to come.

Liberals are working to sustain the future of Canada’s health care system

Liberals are continuing their work on Parliament Hill today by hosting a roundtable on how to make Canada’s health care system sustainable for generations to come.
February 8, 2010 | “This is too little, too late. The Harper government allowed the Americans to rag the puck until any deal was basically irrelevant. Most of the U.S. stimulus has been spent, so Canadian companies are only left with the crumbs.”

In their own words: Buy American is a raw deal for Canada

“This is too little, too late. The Harper government allowed the Americans to rag the puck until any deal was basically irrelevant. Most of the U.S. stimulus has been spent, so Canadian companies are only left with the crumbs.”
February 8, 2010 | Liberals continue to be hard at work on Parliament Hill this week, starting with a forum on lifelong learning that will give voice to growing gaps in education under the Harper government.

Liberals are working to bring lifelong learning to all Canadians

Liberals continue to be hard at work on Parliament Hill this week, starting with a forum on lifelong learning that will give voice to growing gaps in education under the Harper government.
February 5, 2010 | Upon learning the news that Jack Layton, the Leader of the New Democratic Party, is battling cancer, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff made the following statement:

Statement by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff regarding Jack Layton

Upon learning the news that Jack Layton, the Leader of the New Democratic Party, is battling cancer, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff made the following statement:
February 5, 2010 | The Harper Conservatives have little reason to brag about the belated resolution to the Buy American trade dispute, Liberal International Trade Critic Scott Brison said today.

Buy American deal too little, too late

The Harper Conservatives have little reason to brag about the belated resolution to the Buy American trade dispute, Liberal International Trade Critic Scott Brison said today.
February 5, 2010 | Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is taking part in a daylong roundtable meeting focused on bridging the rural-urban divide by strengthening economic opportunity and access to critical services in rural communities.

Liberals are working to bridge rural-urban divide

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is taking part in a daylong roundtable meeting focused on bridging the rural-urban divide by strengthening economic opportunity and access to critical services in rural communities.
« 1 2 3 4 5  ... »