Just what is wrong in this world? This whole posting, as always, is based on my opinions and ideas. I try to keep in mind that if it isn't my circus they are not my monkeys. But when I am not involved with others, I can sit back and see what I think about the world around me.
Politics? Everything is a mess politically both here and south of the border; but it is worse in the USA in many ways. The worst thing happening politically in the USA is "The Donald BUT the second worse thing is Hilary Clinton". If you don't agree then insert your comments!
Here in Canada, I thought we had managed to elect a decent person. I think Trudeau is not making the strides I thought he should in straightening a lot of past policy debacles. One thing I think his government has failed in doing is taking care of the citizens that were born here first. Someone who is born into Canadian citizen-hood should be taken care of if they need shelter and food. New immigrants of any nationality should come second in the pecking order. Our 'home grown' Canadians should be admitted to women's shelters first whether they are first generation or date back to the original citizens of Canada; our native brothers and sisters. And to my mind we should not be encouraging the use of GMO foods or vaccinations on any of our citizenry.
According to the Globe and Mail in September 2016 this is "what was the outcome Trudeau's Visit to China." It took place from September 4 to September 10 of 2016.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, Mr. Trudeau also met with billionaire businessman Li Ka-shing, chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings – considered one of the richest people in Asia – at his cavernous office on the 70th floor of a Hong Kong tower.
At a business luncheon hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Mr. Trudeau also elaborated on the concerns he raised with Chinese leaders about human rights, ranging from consular cases, rule of law, governance and corruption. He said he also acknowledged that Canada isn’t perfect; during the trip, Canada has come under criticism in Chinese media for its treatment of indigenous people.
[I] talked about the challenges, but also talked about the fact that Canada is not immune to criticisms on human rights, either. The perspective that a lot of countries have is, “Well, you know, foreign countries or foreign observers shouldn’t be criticizing what are internal matters to us.”
Mr. Trudeau said China should strengthen its connection to Canada as a way for the rapidly growing superpower to burnish its image on the world stage and that he intends to make real progress on a renewed relationship between the two countries. He said Canada was “looking very favourably” at possibly joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a China-led institution the United States has refused to join. (Here’s Nathan VanderKlippe’s analysis of what that gesture might mean.)
He mentioned human rights only once during an event that lasted longer than an hour. During a news conference Tuesday in Ottawa, a coalition of advocacy groups including Amnesty International urged Trudeau not to squander the chance to encourage China to take meaningful steps on human rights.
Wednesday
After his meeting with Trudeau, Mr. Li told reporters through a translator that Canada and China will launch a feasibility study on an eventual free-trade deal. Formal free trade talks have yet to proceed because of snags over labour, the environment and concerns linked to Chinese state-owned enterprises, according to the Canadian ambassador to China.
China earlier announced an extension to its Thursday deadline to enforce rules on Canadian canola shipments so a long-term deal could be reached. The change threatened to have a negative effect on Canada’s multibillion-dollar canola exports to China. ( Here’s more analysis from Ann Hui, The Globe’s national food reporter, on the political calculus behind China’s plans for Canadian canola.)
Standing beside Mr. Li, Mr. Trudeau played up the diplomatic legacy of his father in China:
My father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, played an important role in establishing a partnership between our two countries when he was prime minister. So, I’m very happy to be extending that effort now.Asked if he had raised human-rights concerns and the case of a jailed Canadian, Mr. Trudeau said the foundation of a good relationship is the ability to be frank and open about issues that can be worked on together. He added that he’s “highlighted a number of consular cases” every time he’s had the opportunity to sit down with Chinese leaders. Those cases include Kevin Garratt, a Canadian imprisoned for more than two years in China on espionage charges. Trudeau himself has indicated in the past that there’s no evidence to support the accusations against Mr. Garratt. The prime minister did not say what China has told him about Mr. Garratt’s case.
Mr. Li insisted through a translator that China is a country of the rule of law. He said judicial authorities will handle cases in strict accordance with the law. He added that individuals will be treated in a “humanitarian way.”
In response, the Garratt family said in a statement through their lawyer that they were “extremely frustrated” by a lack of progress in securing his release:
Kevin should be released to allow the two countries to move forward to develop stronger ties and co-operation on many levels.
Tougher remarks about human rights came after Mr. Trudeau’s meeting with Mr. Xi. Canada’s ambassador, Guy Saint-Jacques, told Canadian reporters at a briefing Wednesday night that China’s human-rights situation has worsened in recent years:
In the last three years we have seen, I think, things going backward, unfortunately. And that’s why Canada has used opportunities to express its views to China.Here’s Nathan VanderKlippe and Laura Stone’s full report on Mr. St. Jacques’s remarks and the politics surrounding them.
Thursday
The second leg of Mr. Trudeau’s trip took him to the Great Wall of China on Thursday morning, where he announced that the countries would co-operate on the development of Chinese national parks.
The Canadian and Chinese governments also confirmed an agreement to open seven new visa centres to help prospective Chinese tourists visit Canada.
Later Thursday – after meeting with Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People – Mr. Trudeau travelled south to Shanghai to deliver a gala speech on economy and trade hosted by the Canada China Business Council. In Shanghai, Mr. Trudeau said he told both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang that human rights and diversity would strengthen China:
And I remind everyone that as a country that has seen the benefits first hand of free expression and good governance, Canada encourages China to do more to promote and protect human rights. I know these are not easy conversations to have but they are necessary ones.The Trudeau government announced the signing of 56 trade deals with China worth more than $1.2-billion. The deals signed on Thursday involve companies in sectors from seafood to clean technologies, International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said. Asked about the prospect of a Sino-Canadian free-trade agreement, Ms. Freeland said Ottawa would be taking its time:
We can be a great partner for China but our government is taking our time. We believe a deep and effective economic relationship with China needs to be built consistently, thoughtfully, carefully.In Shanghai, Trudeau also met with a group of women entrepreneurs. He told them he believes that the strength of any society depends on the full participation of all its citizens — and that especially includes women.
Friday
Unlike his earlier appearances this week in China, Mr. Trudeau had abandoned his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves on Friday in Shanghai. He seemed to be more at ease.
Outside a Shanghai high school, Mr. Trudeau barked instructions from courtside as guest coach of a team. His squad, called the Raptors, faced an opponent coached by former National Basketball Association star Yao Ming. The game took place at a high school where British Columbia-certified teachers teach all courses between grades 10 and 12 in English.
After the game, he made an election-campaign-like stop by sweeping into a busy local restaurant that specializes in Montreal-style smoked meat and is run by a Montrealer. Inside, he moved through the restaurant chatting with customers. He even asked the owner what type of mustard is appropriate on a smoked-meat sandwich.
In the afternoon, Trudeau spoke at a Shanghai event hosted by Canadian insurance firm Manulife, which has had a presence in China since 1897. After his speech, the smiling prime minister was joined on the stage by several people in a slow-moving dance that combined the Chinese art of tai chi with yoga.
Public and media reaction to Mr. Trudeau himself has been particularly fawning, with social-media users calling him “explosively hot” and an “international Internet celebrity.” Here’s Nathan VanderKlippe with more on the nice things Chinese people have had to say about Mr. Trudeau.)
The Labour Day Weekend
Mr. Trudeau was reunited with Alibaba’s Mr. Ma, known as Canada’s Steve Jobs, in Hangzhou on Saturday. The e-commerce giant opened an online “Canada pavilion” to promote Canadian products. Here’s Nathan VanderKlippe’s analysis of how Mr. Trudeau’s courtship with Alibaba fits into the long (and sometimes fruitless) history of Canada trying to get a more balanced trade relationship with the colossal Chinese market.
On Saturday, the United States and China also formally joined the Paris climate-change agreement, which Mr. Trudeau championed last year. The federal government has been working to bring provinces on board with a national agreement. In Hangzhou, Mr. Trudeau reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the Paris deal, but did not commit to immediately ratifying it:
Our commitment to ratifying that deal early was made, and is continuing to be a hot item on the agenda for us. In his public remarks over the three days of the G20 summit, Mr. Trudeau urged his peers to challenge protectionist attitudes that he said have been fueling “divisive, fearful rhetoric” around the world. In the summit’s final communique, G20 leaders agreed to “reject protectionism” and promote global trade and investment.
Mr. Trudeau also said that, on the sidelines of the summit, he spoke with Turkish and Indonesian leaders about the fate of three Canadians detained in those countries, though he didn’t say what he heard in return.
The Last Day
On Tuesday, his final day before returning to Canada, Mr. Trudeau toured the mountainside Sai Wan War Cemetery in Hong Kong, paying homage to Canadian soldiers who died after fighting to defend Hong Kong during the Second World War.
On Tuesday, Mr. Trudeau also met with billionaire businessman Li Ka-shing, chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings – considered one of the richest people in Asia – at his cavernous office on the 70th floor of a Hong Kong tower.
At a business luncheon hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Mr. Trudeau also elaborated on the concerns he raised with Chinese leaders about human rights, ranging from consular cases, rule of law, governance and corruption. He said he also acknowledged that Canada isn’t perfect; during the trip, Canada has come under criticism in Chinese media for its treatment of indigenous people.
[I] talked about the challenges, but also talked about the fact that Canada is not immune to criticisms on human rights, either. The perspective that a lot of countries have is, “Well, you know, foreign countries or foreign observers shouldn’t be criticizing what are internal matters to us.”
Now that you have read the article, hopefully thought about it, drawn conclusions and yes even red between the lines......Who will own British Columbia in 2017?
To be Continued.