The World Against China – Ontario Legislature Cancels Chinese Flag-raising Event, MP Says Two Canadians Remain Illegally Imprisoned in China

Citing the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic as the reason, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario cancelled its Chinese flag-raising ceremony, originally planned on Wednesday in celebration of China’s National Day. As two Canadian citizens were still detained in Beijing, the flag-raising ceremony has been heavily criticized as inappropriate. Other jurisdictions in Canada adopted different approaches in response to China’s National Day, such as making no arrangements of or cancelling related activities.

The Ontario Legislature originally planned to hold the Chinese flag-raising event at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Following reports on the ceremony, however, the Sergeant-at-Arms in the Ontario Legislature Jackie Gordon said on Tuesday that because of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony was cancelled along with all future flag-raising ceremonies, “In light of the rising number of COVID-19 cases and the recommendations by Public Health authorities to be more vigilant than ever, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario has decided to cancel all flag-raising ceremonies until further notice,”

Gordon initially defended the Chinese National Day celebration ceremony, stating that the Chinese flag-raising ceremony did not involve any political considerations, but was simply held in accordance to the request of the Confederation of Toronto Chinese Canadian Organizations. The Consul General of China in Toronto Han Tao was to give a speech at the ceremony.

Earlier on Tuesday, Michael Chong, Conservative Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Member of the Parliament, criticised the decision to raise the Chinese flag, “I don’t think any order of government in Canada should be flying the flag of the People’s Republic of China while two Canadian citizens are wrongfully imprisoned in China. When governments fly a foreign flag it sends a certain signal”

#China #Canada #Ontario #NationalDay #FlagRaising #MichaelChong #COVID19 #JackieGordon #HanTao #CTCCO

Source: Apple Daily #Sep30

https://bit.ly/3ddIseU

China’s sanctions on me and others are a clumsy attempt to silence debate

Michael Chong is the Conservative foreign affairs critic and MP for Wellington-Halton Hills.

China is trying to silence the truth abroad, after having silenced it at home.

Just over two weeks ago, I woke up to news that China’s government had sanctioned me, adding me to a list of officials in the United States, Britain and Europe who have been sanctioned for simply speaking. Speaking against Beijing’s genocide of its Uyghur Muslim minority. Speaking against its crackdown on Hong Kong.

Source: GlobeAndMail #Apr12

#China #Sanction #MichaelChong #MP #Canada

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-chinas-sanctions-on-me-and-others-are-a-clumsy-attempt-to-silence/

The Canadian House of Commons approved forum awards to Tsai Ing-wen; Trudeau denied that he had pressured to withdraw the sponsorship

House of Representatives of Canada unanimously pass a motion on Wednesday (14April), which support Halifax International Security Forum award John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service to Tsai Ing-wen.

The Conservative Party member Michael Chong who initiated discussion, described “President Tsai Ing-wen is a well-respected international leader, female president of Taiwan and a strong global advocate for democracy”. The non-binding motion the award to Tsai Ing-wen, it also calls on the Canada government to maintains its funding on the forum. Canada is the main funding source of the forum.

It was reported earlier that Canada opposed the award to Tsai Ing-wen, in fear of angering Beijing. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has faced questions from members of House of Commons in the past few days, he responded to Michael Chong and replies, “the government has supported and provided funding to the Halifax Security Forum throughout our time in office, and the minister has participated every year and will continue to”. He continued by saying that he always supported Taiwan's “meaningful participation in multilateral international forums”, and continues to have strong and growing trade relations with Taiwan.

Source: Stand News #Apr15

https://bit.ly/3dQyguW

#Canada #Beijing #Taiwan #Trudeau #TsaiIngWen #MichaelChong #HalifaxInternationalSecurityForum #JohnMcCainPrizeForLeadershipInPublicService #Democracy