Canada Is Back ... Cowering Behind China

"Loudness is not necessarily persuasive and people can tell right from wrong."
"We urge the Canadian side to reflect upon its wrongdoing, take China's solemn position and concerns seriously, immediately release Ms. Mene Wanzhou and ensure her safe return to China."
Geng Shuang, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson

Lawyers for Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou say it would be in Canada's national interests to end extradition proceedings against their client. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

This is China telling Canada that in honouring its extradition treaty with the United States by holding Huawei CFO Meng Wanqhou for an extradition hearing, allowing her bail so she can live in comfort in either of her two luxury homes in Vancouver, Canada has assaulted Chinese sensibilities and China will not stand for this kind of impudence. In view of Canada's lack of respect and restraint for the majesty of this world power, two Canadians languish in a Chinese prison, refused legal advice, exposed to harsh interrogations, charged with crimes against China, and imports of Canadian canola, swine and beef have been halted while Chinese diplomats excoriate Canada for its perfidy.

Canada has appealed to the international community to come to its aid in condemning China's spiteful aggression. A few pallid statements of regret at the situation from G7 allies has resulted and the stalemate continues, with China threatening 'consequences', all the more so should Canada decide against awarding Huawei telecommunications contracts with the emerging G5 upgrades. So, is Canada reciprocating on the importation of Chinese goods by imposing restrictions and high customs and excise taxes? Official Canada is on its best tippy-toes behaviour, attempting to soothe the Angry Panda.

This Liberal government had envisioned free trade agreements with Beijing, and now it is reeling under the weight of the wrath of the Communist Government of China. With the mass demonstrations taking place in Hong Kong, watered-down statements urging both Hong Kong and Beijing to exercise restraint and avoid violence have emanated from the squeaky-voiced Cabinet of Justin Trudeau. That there are 300,000 Hong Kongers with Canadian citizenship has not persuaded Ottawa to raise a strident protest against Beijing's forcefulness despite the 'one country, two systems' agreement.

A protester holds a sign reading 'God bless Hong Kong' during a demonstration in Hong Kong on Thursday. High school students thronged a downtown square to debate political reforms. (Vincent Yu/The Associated Press)

And otherwise? How is Canada expressing its frustration and disappointment for China's heavy-handedness? It's verbal attacks and threats, its very successful efforts to destroy Canadian farmers' livelihoods? Goodness, conciliation, that's how. Isn't that the way that weak, small, unimportant-to-the-international-community governments assert their credentials as world players? The weak acceding to the strong; bullied and bully?

"It is worth flagging to people that the main beneficiary will be the Chinese government, more so than the government of Nunavut or the government of Canada."
"This is for the mining projects and nothing else. We think we're stumbling into a lot of easy money when in fact the costs are very high and in some cases actually exceed the benefit."
Dr.Michael Byers, political science professor, Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law, University of British Columbia

"On behalf of MMG, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Canadian government for their support and funding."
Geoffrey Gao, CEO, MMG

"Canadian taxpayers have been paying for highways in the southern part of Canada. Our organization's trying to create jobs that are badly needed up here."
Stanley Anablak, president, Kitikmeot Inuit Association

"The problem with [permafrost] is, if you tear into it just like you do a regular road-building project, you'll wind up with just a bunch of melting road."
"You might have a big grassy plain, and it looks quite beautiful, but if you tear into it ... it'll start to thaw out, and then now it's black, and it's thawing, and the sun's being attracted to it, and you've created this open sore in the tundra."
Lake Pickell, general manager, Arctic Construction

Snow ploughs keep the metre-plus thick ice road on Yellowknife Bay clear for traffic.   Lynn Martel

The road in question is a permanent one, to replace the seasonal ice road representing the sole entry to isolated Arctic communities and more to the point, mining sites, where a Chinese mining company, MMG, controlled by the government of China, holds several mineral deposit sites in the region. This will be a costly venture. The 700-km highway from Yellowknife to a port in the proposal stage on Nunavut's Arctic coast will largely serve the interests of the Chinese government, but it is to be paid for by Canadian taxpayers.

The Liberal government of Justin Trudeau, the same government pleading with China to release two Canadians charged with spurious accusations as payback for arresting Huawei's CFO, has pledged over $50 million for a feasibility study of a highway where the current ice roads are now unreliable as a reflection of climate change. $50 million just for the feasibility study alone. The pledge has the approval of local Inuit leaders even while critics insist the major beneficiary would be the mining company. According to Professor Byers, there is a possibility that Chinese workers will be brought in to build the road.

The Slave Geological Province contains unexplored zinc and copper deposits of interest to the mining company, and the proposed route of the new highway would open up opportunities to begin operations there. This is hugely peculiar. Canada has some of the largest private mining operations in the world, operating mines all over the world. But not in critical areas of Canada? While China has been dredging and exploiting natural resources rapaciously all over the world, Canada included.

That the route would be over 100 kilometres' distant from the nearest communities, Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay, speaks to the direction of this initiative and whose interests it is meant to benefit. Despite that, according to the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, the highway would result in lower costs for building materials and even loaves of bread which are priced between $6 and $10 each at stores in the northern areas of the Arctic. The five area communities are serviced when a ship from Quebec arrives once yearly with supplies.

Ice roads, like this one shown in an aerial photo near Yellowknife,are no longer considered reliable due to the warming climate. Ben Nelms/Bloomberg

Though the cost estimate of such a highway is $1 billion, it could conceivably be more, resulting from the challenges inherent in building on melting permafrost. Contractors would have to lay down geotextile matting to circulate cool air to the ground under the new road, explained Lake Pickell of Arctic Construction; skilled in building all-weather roads in the Yukon. This kind of road, he said, can withstand melting permafrost, and can be built atop swamps as well.

Well, a swamp is what Canada is stumbling about in, with respect to negotiations on any level with China. And we're not performing very well at it. China has informed Canada to stick to its own business and not to interfere in the Hong Kong matter. To take China's example, it has called upon its citizens studying in Canada to rally to Beijing's defence, holding counter-rallies in Canadian cities to the pro-Hong-Kong rallies called in support of guaranteed independence for the city-state.