Carney defends Canada’s approach to forced labour amid fallout from floor-crossing MP’s comments

Prime Minister Mark Carney defended Canada’s approach to forced labour as one of his newest MPs continues to face backlash for appearing to cast doubt on the practice in China.

Carney’s response to Michael Ma’s performance at committee last week comes during a sensitive moment in both Canada’s attempts to reset ties with Beijing and the ongoing trade war with the Trump administration — which is investigating whether its northern neighbour and dozens of other countries are failing to take action on forced labour. 

“Canada has the most rigorous set of engagements on the issue,” Carney said Monday during a news conference in Toronto, where he was asked multiple questions about his MP’s position. 

Last week Ma, who crossed the floor from the Conservatives to the government side in December, asked an aggressive set of questions at a parliamentary committee while questioning expert witness Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa who holds a master’s degree in international relations focused on China.

The committee is studying the federal government’s electric vehicle policies after it announced it would accept tens of thousands of Chinese EVs at a lower tariff rate in exchange for China slashing tariffs on Canadian canola and seafood products.

Ma asked her a series of rapid-fire yes or no questions that appeared to seek to question her credibility and undermine allegations of human rights violations against China.  

“Mr. Ma has apologized for his comments, as he should have,” said Carney.

“He’s recognized the seriousness of the issue in that apology.” 

He said Ma remains a member of the Liberal caucus.

WATCH | Liberal MP at committee:

Liberal MP asks committee expert if she has witnessed forced labour in China

At a parliamentary committee on Thursday, Liberal MP Michael Ma asked Margaret McCuaig-Johnston of the China Strategic Risks Institute if she has personally witnessed forced labour in China. ‘I work closely with Human Rights Watch where researchers did witness it,’ McCuaig-Johnston said. Correction: The description for this video originally said Michael Ma asked about forced labour in Xinjiang, China. In fact, he was asking about Shenzhen.

Ma later clarified he had been asking about forced labour in Shenzhen, a major Chinese automobile manufacturing hub, not Xinjiang, the province where the Chinese government has been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including forced labour, against the Uyghurs.

After the committee meeting, McCuaig-Johnston posted on social media that she had given Ma a copy of the Human Rights Watch report “Asleep at the Wheel.” The report says there’s a risk of Uyghur forced labour being used in carmakers’ aluminum supply chains.

Finance minister heads to China

Carney said his government takes the issue of forced and child labour “incredibly seriously,” rattling off international conventions Canada has signed on, provisions in the country’s free trade agreements and recent funding to the border agency.

“We’re continually reviewing both the adequacy of that — it’s amongst the most rigorous, if not the most rigorous — but also compliance and enforcement mechanisms that are in place,” he said.

“We’ll continue to fight on that.”

When asked to clarify if he believes there is forced labour in China, he said “there are parts of China that are higher risk” and therefore require due diligence.

The prime minister also stressed that forced labour is an issue around the world.

Carney said supply chain integrity, including forced labour, will be raised when Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne visits China later this week.

WATCH | Carney on forced labour in China:

Carney asked if finance minister will discuss forced labour on China trip

Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was in Toronto on Monday alongside Ontario’s premier and Toronto’s mayor for a housing announcement, was asked if Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne will raise the issue of forced labour during a coming trip to China. Carney, who called forced labour a ‘global issue,’ said it would be part of discussions.

“We recognize that this is a global issue, that we need to be vigilant on and not assume … that it’s not an issue in certain countries, including in certain developed countries,” he said.

“So, yes, would be part of the discussions as it is in other situations where we’re developing trade.”

In a social media post Friday night, the Chinese Embassy in Canada pushed back on the allegation that forced labour is used in the production of electric vehicles, calling it a “blatant lie.” 

U.S. probing Canada’s imports 

The forced labour dispute also comes as Canada finds itself once again targeted by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda.

Canada has been included in a probe of countries suspected of allowing commodities or finished goods made with slave labour to enter its supply chain. 

At stake is a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian exports.

It’s not the first time Canada has been accused of allowing suspect goods into the country.

In 2021, CBC’s Marketplace probed evidence of forced labour in supply chains for clothing originating from North Korea and tomato products from Xinjiang.

Article source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/china-forced-labour-carney-9.7147113?cmp=rss