Roundup: Huawei, Trump, and the rule of law

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The issue around the arrest of Huawei’s CFO in Vancouver last week took a number of turns yesterday, and is proving to be an utter gong show, thanks entirely to Donald Trump. So, to recap, the US ambassador to Canada stated that there was absolutely no political motivation behind the request for the arrest and extradition to the US, but meanwhile in China, a former Canadian diplomat who now works with International Crisis Group was arrested in China for no apparent reason, and there is no confirmation as to whether this is in retaliation for the Huawei arrest. Back in Vancouver, said CFO was granted bail for $10 million with five guarantors while she will await extradition hearings – and she has to surrender her passport, be under 24/7 surveillance and wear an ankle monitor, because she is considered a high flight risk. (Here’s a good backgrounder on all of the issues).

And then, it all went pear-shaped. Why? Because Donald Trump suddenly said that he’d intervene in the case if it helps to get a trade deal with China, which undermines the rule of law that Canada has been operating under and trying to assure Beijing that we’re operating under, and that because we have an independent judiciary with processes to be followed (which they can’t get their heads around because their judicial system is politicised), and all of the evidence around the criminal activities, allegations of fraud and of violating sanctions is apparently all for naught, because the US president has put his foot in it. And lo, Canada is relatively screwed by the whole thing. Hooray.

https://twitter.com/InklessPW/status/1072642206756990978

Good reads:

  • The government released their terrorism threat report yesterday, which included some context around the 60 suspected extremists who’ve returned to Canada.
  • The government rejected proposed Senate amendments around defining sexual consent as part of their Criminal Code reform bill.
  • The election law reform bill has now passed the Senate, in time for Elections Canada to make most of the required changes before the next election.
  • The Commons Ethics committee is planning to release their report on Facebook’s data breaches, and their worries about election chicanery next year.
  • The Correctional Service is investigating if the transfer of a child killer to medium security was proper, though he was sent to a facility specializing in sex offenders.
  • A group of pro-pipeline Indigenous leaders want to take the government’s tanker ban to court, saying the anti-pipeline Indigenous communities are foreign-funded.
  • HMCS Calgary appears to have witnessed a violation of sanctions against North Korea, and has collected the intelligence of the incident.
  • While some are calling for Alberta to boycott Quebec’s products, here’s a look at what the economic relationship is and what the blowback for Alberta might be.
  • CBSA is looking to renew the reality series Border Security, but would face hurdles related to privacy and rights violations.
  • The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has rescinded the order to halt the new surface combatant program.
  • As we reach the three-year anniversary of the first wave of Syrian refugees arriving in Canada, they are becoming eligible for citizenship.
  • Absent Liberal MP Nicola Di Iorio returned to the Commons yesterday to give a speech to defend his actions, which then veered waaaay off course. Wheee!
  • Former NDP MP Svend Robinson is considering a political comeback, and running in Burnaby North–Seymour (currently held by Liberal Terry Beech).
  • The Ontario Ombudsman is being asked to look into the hiring process for the new OPP commissioner, as well as requests Ford made for sole-sourced vehicles.
  • Rachel Notley wants to entertain proposals for a new refinery, despite the high cost, low margins, and fact that they create very few jobs.
  • Former federal finance officials Scott Clark and Peter DeVries discuss budget balances, and throw some shade at both Liberals and Conservatives over it.
  • My column tries to delve into some of the anger in Alberta, and how it’s being exploited by hucksters who could make the situation worse through false hope.

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