Canada is gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and women’s rights activists in #SaudiArabia, including Samar Badawi. We urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release them and all other peaceful #humanrights activists.
— Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) August 3, 2018
One Canadian export that can't be touched by tariffs is the values of human rights. In the 2015 federal election, Justin Trudeau spoke often about Canada's role in the world, where it had been and where it should be. The Liberals won government in great part because of that approach and thought process.
The tweet above isn't anything new that Canada has said since that election. The specifics are new about the arrests. Canada's ties to Badawi stem from her brother, Raif, who has also been arrested for similar reasons. Raif Badawi’s wife, Ensaf Haidar, and their three children have been living in Quebec since 2015. Haidar and her children became Canadian citizens on Canada Day 2018.
Saudi Arabia is a bully, a childish bully.
The response to the tweet seemed excessive, even by 2018 standards for childishness.
- Sending Canada's ambassador out of the country
- Evacuating students from Canadian universities and patients from Canadian hospitals
- Suspending flights to and from Canada
- Putting a halt to "all new trade and investment transactions"
The exception is definitely oil and possibly the $15 billion sale of light armored vehicles.
The Harper Government made the deal for the $15 billion sale of light armored vehicles and sold primary control of the Canadian Wheat Board to state-owned Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co. in 2015.
The Trudeau Government hasn't been thrilled with the sale of light armored vehicles. Canadians shouldn't be thrilled with the foreign control of the Canadian Wheat Board.
"Canada knows what it needs to do." Saudi Arabia foreign affairs minister Adel al-Jubeir. " A mistake has been made and a mistake should be corrected … Canada needs to fix its big mistake." You have to hear the quotes to comprehend the arrogance in his voice.
We've heard about Saudi Arabia tantrums with Sweden and Germany in recent years. Like most bullies, Saudi Arabia gets its way.
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We also saw that Canada is standing alone. Countries such as the U.S. and UK have been lukewarm. The test of strong, principled leadership is standing up to bullies regardless of getting support from the world community.
Canada would have more room for students from other countries to replace Saudi students at universities. Same goes for potential physicians. Trade between the countries is not terribly large. Saudi Arabia also threatened not to buy Canadian wheat and barley, but barely have any sales.
NDP federal leader Jagmeet Singh suggested Canada can look for other countries for oil. "I think we should look at that as an alternative to dealing with a nation that has a serious track record of human rights violations, oppression of women, oppression of those who have voiced criticism of the government," Singh told Vassy Kapelos on Power and Politics on CBC News Network.
"Canadians have always expected our government to speak strongly, firmly and politely about the need to respect human rights around the world. We will continue to stand up for Canadian values and human rights. It's something that I will always do," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters last week.
Women's rights activists Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sadah are still in jail in Saudi Arabia. They and others should be the focal point.
If Canada can help them through diplomacy without groveling, this might be the start of breaking down barriers against countries with horrible human rights track records. Besides peacekeeping, this could be Canada's legacy to diplomacy and human rights throughout the world.
Twitter capture: @CanadaFP
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