October 11, 2024
Ontario celebrations of Communist China's founding cancelled after outcry from Hong Kong protest supporters
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Supporters march in solidarity with Hong Kong protesters, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada September 29, 2019.
Supporters march in solidarity with Hong Kong protesters, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada September 29, 2019.

Two city-hall ceremonies to mark the founding of Communist China this weekend were cancelled at the last minute, as controversy continued over how the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic was to be celebrated in Canada — if at all.

The flag-raising events planned for Richmond Hill and Vaughan, both suburban municipalities north of Toronto with large Chinese-Canadian populations, were called off amid angry complaints from groups supporting protesters in Hong Kong.

A third in nearby Markham, Ont., went ahead on Saturday, with speeches from Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Chinese consul general Han Tao.

All three were organized by a group whose leader has in the past echoed a key demand of the Chinese government, calling for the speedy release of Meng Wanzhou, the Huawei executive arrested at the request of U.S. prosecutors.

Meanwhile, Chinese-language media coverage revealed that a second Liberal cabinet member — Mary Ng — spoke at a 70th-anniversary dinner last week. Harjit Sajjan, defence minister, appeared at a celebration in Vancouver, though said he did so as a candidate and didn’t stay long.

Such events have been held in past years, and many municipalities allow community groups to hold flag-raising parties at city halls on the national day of their countries of origin.

But the China events have been particularly contentious this year in the face of Canada’s bitter diplomatic feud with Beijing, the mass protests in Hong Kong and growing concern about human-rights abuses in China.

[…]

See Also:

(1) Strike called off after Ontario provincial government negotiates deal with teachers unions

(2) Assaults on TTC drivers too frequent

(3) Ontario needs to clean up its political fundraising rules

Loading

Visited 15 times, 1 visit(s) today