Canada’s China critic takes helm of opposition party as Trudeau seeks new mandate

Name: Anti-Asian attacks increase in Canada since start of coronavirus pandemic
Uploaded: 2020-08-26T13:00:11.000Z
Duration: 1 min 40 s
Description: Anti-Asian attacks increase in Canada since start of coronavirus pandemic

Erin O’Toole’s successful campaign promised a tough approach to Beijing, with return of detained Canadians a priority

Attitudes to China are shaping political debate but there are fears of a rising anti-Asian tone

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Erin O’Toole, newly-elected leader of Canada's opposition Conservative Party, delivers his victory speech. Photo: Bloomberg

Ethan Paul

Published: 9:00pm, 26 Aug 2020Updated: 9:00pm, 26 Aug 2020

The election of a China critic as leader of Canada’s Conservative Party on Monday shows the ranks of political leaders in the West calling for a tougher stance against Beijing growing ever larger.

Erin O’Toole, who beat out perceived front-runner Peter MacKay with 57 per cent of the party vote, is positioned to challenge Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a federal election that could come later this year. Current polls suggest Trudeau’s Liberal Party holds an edge over the Conservatives.

Canadian commentators say the concerns about China are shaping part of the political debate in the country, but warn it also risks generating an anti-Asia tone.

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Anti-Asian attacks increase in Canada since start of coronavirus pandemic

Trudeau has called for a suspension of parliament until September 23, saying his government needs time to pull together a post-Covid-19 economic recovery plan, though his critics say it is an attempt to delay an ethics inquiry. His plan will face a confidence vote in parliament and could force an election if it fails.

O’Toole’s victory comes amid a wave of souring views on China, led by the United States which has slapped sanctions on Chinese leaders and companies for issues ranging from alleged human rights abuses to predatory trade practices.

Countries like Britain, France, and Germany have joined in with misgivings about Beijing’s global intentions, even though China is one of their biggest trading partners.

“There is no greater geopolitical issue than dealing with the Communist Party of China’s intentions to impose its own model of authoritarian governance on the world and erode a rules-based approach,” O’Toole’s campaign platform read.