Canada Needs to Close Knowledge Gap on China Relations, Say

Canada Needs to Close Knowledge Gap on China Relations, Say

Postby Oscar » Mon Jul 25, 2016 10:22 am

Canada Needs to Close Knowledge Gap on China Relations, Say Experts

[ http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/06/10/Close ... ledge-Gap/ ]

Without more experts, Liberal gov't may find itself at a disadvantage.

By Jeremy J. Nuttall , 10 Jun 2016 | TheTyee.ca

EXCERPT:

Pipeline for free trade?


Justin Trudeau's promised push for a free trade deal with China comes despite polling by Nik Nanos showing 76 per cent of Canadians have a negative view of the idea. [ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/pol ... e28694218/ ]

Kai Nagata of the anti-pipeline group Dogwood Initiative said it's been evident to him for some time that Canada's politicians are willing to put Beijing's concerns ahead of Canadians'.

Dogwood Initiative has started a campaign urging Canadians to "stand up to China" over its demand for a pipeline and tanker port in British Columbia as a condition to start free trade talks. [ http://www.standuptochina.ca/ ]

Near the end of last week's media conference, Wang denied the pre-condition exists, despite it being well-documented in Canadian media. [ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/pol ... e28208595/ ]

Nagata said he's concerned by the attitude of China's minister in Ottawa last week and the federal government's apparent willingness to work with Beijing regardless of what Canadians want.

He said China is dangling a free trade deal in front of the Liberals and using it to get Canada to accept an "unusual amount of diplomatic abuse." Ottawa's timid response doesn't give him hope the Liberals will stand up for Canadians' concerns, he said.

"I wonder how much (China) cares about rights and title of First Nations on the west coast and how much they care about the rights of British Columbians who don't want more oil tanker traffic through our communities," he said.

But engaging China on issues that affect both nations and encouraging the country to collaborate on solutions will be difficult unless the government fills its knowledge gap, Burton said.

Meanwhile, he said, last week's incident with the foreign minister will probably force Ottawa to revamp its plan on selling Beijing-backed ideas to Canadians.

"People now have a very determined attitude that our government has to represent Canadian values, and in our dealing with China we cannot compromise the things that make Canada great: our respect for human rights and rule of law," he said.
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