Photo by Curtis Galbraith

By Curtis Galbraith

Federal Politics

Only troublesome issues bring MPs to Ottawa in the summer: Warkentin

Jul 31, 2019 | 5:30 AM

It was an unusual site in Ottawa Tuesday.

MPs were called back to Ottawa after the Globe and Mail reported that two former Canadian ambassadors were told to keep quiet about this country’s recent diplomatic dispute with China.

Grande Prairie-Mackenzie MP Chris Warkentin says it is “unprecedented” to see the Prime Minister’s Office directing federal employees to tell the retired diplomats to keep quiet

He adds the ambassadors have been saying the Prime Minister is not being strong enough in dealing with China.

“China has effectively been beating Canada over the head for the last several months and Canadians across the country have been punished by the Prime Minister’s inaction. These former ambassadors are simply telling the Prime Minister that it’s time for him to do his job.”

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The PMO has denied it told Global Affairs Canada to do any of this. Former ambassadors David Mulroney and Guy Saint-Jacques said they had both been contacted by Global Affairs, with Mulroney saying the contact was initiated by the Prime Ministers Office.

Warkentin was an observer at a Tuesday committee meeting in Ottawa where a Liberal majority voted down an opposition motion to have an investigation.

“Members of Parliament flew in from around the country to be at that meeting and the Liberals shut it down without hearing one witness, without hearing, really, what has gone on and finding out and really uncovering what the truth is.”

Warkentin says having MPs back in Ottawa for a committee meeting during summer break only happens for troublesome issues.

He adds a Conservative government would take harder action in the dispute with Beijing.

“Canada could withdraw from the (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank). It was unprecedented, really ridiculous, that the Prime Minister committed tens of millions, hundreds of millions of dollars, to the Chinese for infrastructure in Asia for really no return for Canadians, but this was the Prime Minister’s goodwill gesture that he gave to China.”

Warkentin says his side would also name a new ambassador to China as the post has been vacant for several months. He adds the Chinese government has thrown Canadians in jail and punished Canadian farmers by cutting off imports for no reason.