A non-binding motion by the Conservatives calls on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ban Huawei’s 5G within 30 days.
Canada’s opposition on Wednesday called on the government of Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to toughen China, including by officially banning Huawei Technologies Co Ltd’s use of 5G technology in the country.
Opposition parties passed a non-binding Conservative motion identifying China as a threat to Canada’s interests and values and calling on the government to work out a plan in Canada to “combat China’s growing overseas operations”.
“We are calling on the Liberal government to finally build a spine and make a decision about Huawei’s involvement in the Canadian 5G network,” said Conservative leader Erin O’Toole.
5G networks offer data speeds that are up to 50 or 100 times faster than 4G networks and are intended to supply everything from telemedicine to remote operations to self-driving cars.
Trudeau heads a minority government that depends on one of the three opposition parties to pass laws and stay afloat. Last month the prime minister appeared to be seeking an early vote with no success, but many in Ottawa are now expecting an early election next year.
The arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver two years ago on a United States arrest warrant put Canada in the middle of the US-China trade war, and Ottawa continues to respond to Beijing’s aggressive tactics.
Following Meng’s arrest, China arrested two Canadian citizens on alleged espionage and they have been detained ever since. China also cut off rapeseed imports. Meng fights against extradition to the USA.
The Trudeau government has put any decision to approve Huawei 5G technology on hold, although Ottawa’s main allies in the five-eyes-sharing group – the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand – have taken all steps to keep Huawei to disallow.
Trudeau reiterated that the government was waiting for a recommendation from the country’s intelligence services.
The opposition motion, passed between 179 and 146, called on the government to officially ban Huawei 5G within 30 days and to devise a plan to combat Chinese operations to intimidate Chinese nationals living in Canada.
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