Canadian lawmakers vote to declare China is committing genocide, but Justin Trudeau and cabinet abstain
- The motion that passed 266-0 also calls for the 2022 Winter Olympics to be moved from Beijing over the treatment of Uygurs in Xinjiang
- China’s envoy told Canadian lawmakers over the weekend to butt out of its internal affairs
Canada’s House of Commons voted on Monday to declare that China is committing genocide against more than 1 million Uygurs in the western Xinjiang region but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet abstained from the vote.
The non-binding motion passed 266-0 as virtually all but Trudeau and his Cabinet voted for the measure that also called on the International Olympic Committee to move the 2022 Winter Olympics from Beijing.
A senior government official said that Canada’s foreign minister will make the government’s position clear but said declaring something in parliament is not going to adequately get results in China and that work with international allies and partners is needed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak publicly about the matter.
The main opposition parties supported the motion and control the majority of seats in the House of Commons. Trudeau’s Cabinet is made up of 37 Liberal lawmakers including the prime minister. There are 154 lawmakers from Trudeau’s Liberal party in the House of Commons and the rest of the Liberal lawmakers voted freely on the motion.
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China rejects Canada’s accusation over ‘arbitrary detention’ of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor
Opposition Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole said he is calling on the government to confirm the statement passed by the House of Commons and work with allies like the US to push for an end to the camps and conduct by China.