Conservative leader Erin O'Toole responded to Dominic Barton's resignation as Canadian ambassador to China. O'Toole said that Trudeau's China strategy was "a mess."
In a press conference on Monday, O'Toole said that Canada "needs to have is a principle-based approach that shows that our economic interests in China will not dominate our concerns about human rights."
"What we need to have is a principle-based approach that shows that our economic interests in China will not dominate our concerns about human rights," says Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole when asked re: resignation of ambassador Barton & future Canada–China relations.#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/RXUPabOWqM
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) December 6, 2021
O'Toole especially raised concerns about the ongoing Uighur genocide, tensions with Taiwan, and the attack on Hong Kong democracy.
"The Trudeau government has mishandled the relationship with China since the early days of his tenure," said O'Toole.
"We had no ambassador for almost a year between Mr. Barton and Mr. McCallum who had to resign because of failures to be transparent."
Barton quit his role after only spending a few years on the job. Barton said that Canada's relationship with China was crucial to maintain for the future.
"When I first accepted the appointment in 2019, Prime Minister Trudeau set my core priority to secure the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and to manage our relationship with China in light of severe tensions related to the Meng Wanzhou extradition arrest," Barton said.
"Today, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are back in Canada, and the government is better positioned to achieve its other diplomatic priorities with China," he added.
Before becoming ambassador to China, Barton was an executive at McKinsey.
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