My TakeOttawa’s decision on whether to snub Huawei a foregone conclusion

The Canadian public has become much more hardline or hawkish than its government over the years, and the case of Meng Wanzhou and the two Michaels has made it more so towards China

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Published: 9:00pm, 12 Oct 2021

Of the “Five Eyes” group of English-speaking nations, Canadians may have the most reason to ban Huawei Technologies, the Chinese tech giant, from taking part in their country’s construction of 5G telecommunications networks.

Certainly, that’s the overwhelming public opinion. In a new national survey, more than three out of four Canadians think Huawei should be banned, up drastically from 53 per cent in 2019. Only one in 10 Canadians say Huawei should be allowed to supply 5G gear in their country, down from 22 per cent from the same period.

The fact that the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been dithering for years in making up its mind says something about his almost pathological tendency of trying to have it both ways, while in the end still getting the short end of the stick.

After the fiasco over Meng Wanzhou and the two Michaels, it’s now impossible for the Canadian government to allow it a piece of the country’s 5G pie.

Now in his third term, Trudeau first came to power promising greater trade and business ties with China to boost his country’s economy. His late father, Pierre, was one of Canada’s most respected political leaders and was considered by the communist leadership as “a friend of China”. But the Meng affair has caused relations between Canada and China to plunge to their worst level ever and cost the Canadian economy dearly from Chinese economic sanctions and penalties.

Trudeau might have had the excuse of not inflaming the situation with China while Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were under Chinese detention. Now, though, both men are home and Meng, Huawei’s No 2, has returned to China. However good, efficient and cost-effective Huawei’s service may be, a decision to ban it is almost a no-brainer for a Canadian political leader.

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} The Canadian public has become much more hardline or hawkish than its government over the years, and the case of Meng Wanzhou and the two Michaels has made it more so towards China

The Canadian public has become much more hardline or hawkish than its government over the years, and the case of Meng Wanzhou and the two Michaels has made it more so towards China