FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 4, 2009
FIVE YEARS OF ISOLATIONISM STALLS ENGAGEMENT WITH CHINA
New Democrats call for better relations and enhanced visitor’s visa arrangements
OTTAWA – The public rebuke of Canada’s prime minister by China’s Premier highlights the consequences of five years of missed opportunities for constructive engagement with the world’s rising power.
“When it comes to China the government was missing in action for five years,” said New Democrat Foreign Affairs Critic Paul Dewar. “Not only did the government’s approach damage our bilateral economic relations but also hindered opportunities for dialogue with China on issues such as human rights, Burma and Afghanistan”.
Dewar argues, contrary to the Conservatives’ practice of isolation which has been ineffectual on all fronts, the best strategy to undertake is one of constructive engagement with China.
“There’s work to do on Canada’s part,” said New Democrat Citizenship and Immigration critic Olivia Chow. “The new tourist designation and the consulate in Montreal are important gestures by the Chinese, now it’s our turn to take action”.
Chow pointed to 17,296 incidents of Canada rejecting visitor’s visa applications last year. “The people whose applications were rejected felt insulted because they received insufficient information as to why they were turned down,” said Chow. “We call on the government to establish a revamped transparent visa process that is fast, efficient, and fair, and to put in place an appeal system similar to that of Australia and the United Kingdom.”
“This is not a time for government to pat itself on the back,” concluded Dewar. “The Prime Minister was slapped down by Chinese leadership and there’s a lot of lost ground to make up”.
