extradition

Wednesday June 19, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday June 19, 2019

Crowd Contrast

A city that was thirsty to celebrate its first major professional sports title in more than a quarter century erupted in joy Monday, with tens of thousands of fans jammed on to the streets of downtown Toronto for the championship parade.

June 15, 2019

The parade was more than two hours behind schedule as the buses carrying the Raptors were held up by the massive amount of fans on the streets. Just after 2:20 p.m., the national anthem was played at Nathan Phillips Square with the crowd singing O Canada as the wait continued for the Raptors.

It was followed by a flyby from the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Snowbirds demonstration team.

Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard came out last, serenaded with chants of “MVP, MVP, MVP!”

The fans then gave a rousing rendition of Queen’s “We Are The Champions” before the politicians began their speeches.

Mayor John Tory said the city would rename a part of Bremner Blvd. as Raptors Way. Tory also gave the team a key to the city, handing it to Leonard. (Hamilton Spectator) 

Meanwhile, Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through Hong Kong on Sunday to voice their opposition to legislation that would allow people to be extradited to mainland China where they could face politically-charged trials.

March 24, 2008

The massive demonstration took place three days before the semi-autonomous Chinese territory’s government plans to bring the highly-contentious bill to the full legislature in a bid to win approval by the end of the month.

Police estimated the crowd at 240,000, but organizers said more than one million took part.

The protest was one of the largest in recent Hong Kong history, underscoring fears over China’s broadening footprint in the former British colony. It appeared to be even bigger than a massive pro-democracy demonstration in 2003 against a proposed national security law, according to Associated Press journalists who covered both events.

Late Sunday night, a group of demonstrators broke through barriers at government headquarters, where the march had ended. The crowd briefly pushed its way into the lobby, but police in riot gear used batons and pepper spray to push the protesters outside. Most had dispersed by 1 a.m., but police continued pushing protesters away for kilometres over a period of two to three hours.

There was still a strong police presence on streets throughout downtown Hong Kong as of 3 a.m. Monday. (Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Thursday January 24, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday January 24, 2019

Canada’s ambassador to China says Meng has strong defence to fight extradition

Canada’s top diplomat in China says the Huawei executive arrested in Vancouver at the request of the United States has a strong case to fight extradition, a position that has prompted backlash from the Conservative opposition in Ottawa who say this sort of interference by an ambassador should not be tolerated by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

January 10, 2019

Meng Wanzhou, the 46-year-old chief financial officer of the telecom giant, has “quite good arguments on her side,” John McCallum said at a news conference with Canadian and state-owned Chinese-language media in Markham, Ont., on Tuesday.

“One, political involvement by comments from Donald Trump in her case. Two, there’s an extraterritorial aspect to her case, and three, there’s the issue of Iran sanctions which are involved in her case, and Canada does not sign on to these Iran sanctions. So I think she has some strong arguments that she can make before a judge,” he said in his opening remarks.

McCallum said a judge will ultimately make the decision on whether she should be extradited, and stressed there has been “zero involvement” by the federal government.

“It’s purely a judicial process. There may come a time when the justice minister is required to give a view, but that will not be for some months to come,” he said.

November 12, 2015

“I know this has angered China, but we have a system of extradition treaty, a system of rules of law, which are above the government. The government cannot change these things, and as I said, I think Ms. Meng has quite a strong case.”

Despite those assurances, the Liberal government to this point has not weighed in on the merits of the case or offered an opinion on the possible legal avenues her counsel could pursue in court.

In fact, before McCallum’s remarks Tuesday, the government had studiously avoided discussing the facts of the case in public. (Source: CBC) 

 

Wednesday December 12, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday December 12, 2018

Trump’s trade war bluster over China is rattling the world

January 26, 2017

The sharp rise of the Dow Jones industrial average since Donald Trump’s election as president in November 2016 is something he and his supporters often cite to show how he has helped the economy — and how, despite his divisive style, Trump’s tax cuts and regulation reductions have been good for America. But the president’s bluster about trade wars — “I am a Tariff Man” — and the important U.S.-China relationship has so far fuelled only chaos. Consider this week. The Dow dropped 799 points Tuesday then had a wilder day on Thursday, closing down 79 points after falling as much as 784 points.

There’s been global fallout since Saturday, when Trump asserted that Chinese President Xi Jinping had caved in his trade war with the U.S. Trump said he’d cut an “incredible” deal in which China would drop a 40 per cent import duty on American cars in return for the U.S. dropping a planned increase in tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese exports.

November 30, 2018

Initially, markets around the planet were thrilled by the news — a trade war between Earth’s two biggest economies creates headaches for nearly everyone. But as it became clear that Xi had only agreed to a 90-day truce on trade issues — not remotely what Trump claimed — investors panicked. The Dow has fallen by 2,000 points from its 2018 high, wiping out nearly all of its gains for the year. Adding to investors’ worries: the news that Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of the giant Chinese tech firm Huawei, had been arrested by Canadian authorities at the U.S. Justice Department’s behest, reportedly because of Huawei’s breaking sanctions by doing business with Iran.

December 5, 2017

Given that she is the daughter of Huawei’s founder, Ren Zhengfei, who is revered in China for creating a tech behemoth that is a legitimate rival to U.S. firms, Beijing’s sharp reaction to her arrest was no surprise. But the arrest only underscored the valid reasons that Washington has for being upset with China’s trade practices. China tramples on laws and agreements it doesn’t like, not just by trading with international sponsors of terrorism and subsidizing exports but by aggressively stealing intellectual property and business secrets from U.S. tech firms. Trump has a case when he says his predecessors let Beijing get away with awful behaviour.

But it’s his problem now. He has stated that “trade wars are great and easy to win.” It’s easy to declare nonexistent wins. It’s far more difficult to stabilize the strategically vital relationship between Washington and Beijing with the care and thoughtfulness it demands — and the world needs. (Source: San Diego Union-Tribune) 

 

Thursday September 23, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday September 23, 2016 Trudeau says Canada has 'extremely highÊstandards' for extradition treaty with China Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada will maintain high standards as it negotiates an extradition treaty with China, while critics raiseÊconcerns 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 in Ottawa. "We have a very, very rigorous process, that conforms with the expectations and values of Canadians, and that continues.Ó The LiberalsÊannounced last weekÊnegotiations have begun on a treaty that would allow the Chinese government to pursue someone onÊCanadian soil for crimes committed in China. The issue was raised Wednesday in Question Period, where Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose called Trudeau's approach "shockinglyÊnaive.Ó "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 foreignÊagents into Canada without our permission," she said.Ê "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 China and in increasing access to the Chinese market after the "hotÊand 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 areÊimportant to the Chinese government," Trudeau said. "We continue to be strong in our values, in our principles and our expectations of anyone weÊengage with around the world."Ê Chinese Premier Li Kegiang arrived in Ottawa Wednesday afternoon, three week

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday September 23, 2016

Trudeau says Canada has ‘extremely high standards’ for extradition treaty with China

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.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday August 30, 2016 Trudeau leaves on first official visit to China Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has left for his first official visit to China, with both countries expressing hope they can improve their economic connection. Trudeau, who is accompanied by his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and daughter Ella-Grace Margaret Trudeau, said last week that he hopes the visit will be a reset in the relationship between the two countries. Trudeau will be kept busy, with a host of business-related meetings during stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. HeÕll also attend the G20 leadersÕ summit in Hangzhou. The Chinese government moved last week to take the sting out of a potential irritant during the visit, the issue of human rights. ChinaÕs ambassador to Canada said in an interview with The Canadian Press that his country has made progress in addressing international concerns in recent years. Luo Zhaohui acknowledged China has a long way to go to further improve the situation. Trudeau has said he will continue voicing CanadaÕs human rights concerns to ChinaÕs leadership. (Source: Toronto Star)Êhttps://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/08/29/trudeau-leaves-on-first-official-visit-to-china.html Canada, China, diplomacy, trade, human rights,ÊXi Jinping, suggestion, box, comments

 August 30, 2016

“Canada has extremely high standards on extradition treaties,” Trudeau said to reporters at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa.

“We have a very, very rigorous process, that conforms with the expectations and values of Canadians, and that continues.”

The Liberals announced last week negotiations have begun on a treaty that would allow the Chinese government to pursue someone on Canadian soil for crimes committed in China.

The issue was raised Wednesday in Question Period, where Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose called Trudeau’s approach “shockingly naive.”

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Friday September 2, 2016 Trudeau and Chinese premier explore possibleÊfree trade deal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has brought Canada closer to China after agreeing with the Chinese premier to deepen theÊcountriesÕ relationships Ñ and explore a possible free trade deal. After meeting with Trudeau, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told reporters through a translator that Canada and China will launch aÊfeasibility study on an eventual free-trade deal. A senior Canadian official later said the two countries have ongoing technical discussions on free trade, but stressed that thereÊare no negotiations under way at this point. ÒThis year marks 45 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and China,Ó Trudeau said as he stood beside Li in BeijingÕsÊGreat Hall of the People, which overlooks Tiananmen Square. ÒMy father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, played an important role in establishing a partnership between our two countries when heÊwas prime minister. So, IÕm very happy to be extending that effort now.Ó The countries also agreed to hold annual meetings between the Chinese premier and the Canadian prime minister on a range ofÊissues, including national security and the rule of law. (Source: Toronto Star) https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/08/31/trudeau-and-chinese-premier-explore-possible-free-trade-deal.html Canada, China, globalization, free, trade, employment, economics, diplomacy, propaganda

September 2, 2016

“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?”

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday August 24, 2016 Locals outraged at OttawaÕs Òdeafening silenceÓ on steel industry Union leaders, Opposition MPs and even the Chamber of Commerce are pressing the federal government to help Canada's struggling steel industry. Two Hamilton Members of Parliament, three chambers of commerce and union leaders at the local and provincial levels separately have called for help for the industry and especially for retirees and workers in Hamilton. NDP MPs Scott Duvall (Hamilton Mountain)Êand Dave Christopherson (Hamilton Centre) have written to Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, saying the federal government has stayed on the sidelines too long. "To date, your government has not been tangibly involved in any way to help protect the jobs, benefits and pensions of current and former employees of USSC/Stelco despite commitments previously made by colleagues and the Prime Minister" they wrote. "Workers, pensioners, the business community and the City of Hamilton have all appealed for your help. So far, you and your government have been missing in action.Ó As a start, they want the government to release the "secret deal" that ended a lawsuit against U.S. Steel for breaking the production and employment promises it made to get government approval for the acquisition. They also back a call by the United Steelworkers union for a public inquiryÊinto Canadian bankruptcy law they say favours creditors at the expense of workers and retirees, and the 2007 takeover of Stelco by U.S. Steel. Duvall has raised the issue in ParliamentÊseveral times. U.S. Steel Canada, the former Stelco, has been under creditor protection since Sept. 16, 2014. It is seeking a buyer for the mills in Hamilton and Nanticoke. On the business front, chambers of commerce in Hamilton, Windsor and Sault Ste. Marie are taking a joint resolution to the Canadian chamber's national convention calling for a policy to protect the industry from unfair fo

August 24, 2016

Trudeau said his government has succeeded in resolving consular cases in China and 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,” Trudeau said. “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 Kegiang arrived in 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. (Source: CBC News)