Evidence of meeting #25 for Canada-China Relations in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was universities.
A video is available from Parliament.
9:20 p.m.
Liberal
Emmanuel Dubourg Liberal Bourassa, QC
I see. Thank you.
I have one last question for you, Mr. Li, a quick one.
The Confucius Institute at Carleton University hosts students and teachers from China—I am not referring to other Confucius institutes. As we know, those people are prepared before they come here.
According to media reports, Falun Gong practitioners are not allowed to work for Confucius institutes. Is that right?
9:20 p.m.
Director, National Capital Confucius Institute for Culture, Language and Business, Carleton University, As an Individual
Thank you, sir.
Can you hear me?
9:20 p.m.
Director, National Capital Confucius Institute for Culture, Language and Business, Carleton University, As an Individual
We receive visiting scholars from China. Their academic qualifications are reviewed by our faculty members in the departments. Once they have been accepted academically, we'll issue an invitation, and there's a very complete internal process.
The Confucius Institute at Carleton initializes an internal process. Then processing is carried out through the approval of the chair and director of the department, then the dean of the faculty, and then, ultimately, the vice-president of research and international or the provost and vice-president academic.
May 3rd, 2021 / 9:20 p.m.
Liberal
Emmanuel Dubourg Liberal Bourassa, QC
Thank you, Mr. Li.
Can anyone register at the Confucius Institute, just as Falun Gong practitioners can register at Carleton University?
9:20 p.m.
Director, National Capital Confucius Institute for Culture, Language and Business, Carleton University, As an Individual
The credit course run by the School of Linguistics and Language Studies is open to everyone.
9:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Dubourg.
Mr. Bergeron, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.
9:20 p.m.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to follow up on the questions Mr. Paul-Hus asked about Huawei.
Mr. Elcock, other than the current situation involving the two Michaels, why has Canada not made a decision about Huawei? The other Five Eyes members have already announced that they would not allow the use of Huawei technology in their respective 5G networks.
9:20 p.m.
As an Individual
Mr. Chair, I can't answer that question. I don't sit in government councils anymore, so I don't know precisely why the government has not taken action. I suspect that it is certainly conceivable that the detention of the two Michaels in China would have an impact on their decision and that a decision on Huawei might have potential consequences on their detention.
9:20 p.m.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
In your view, the government has already made its decision, and it's a no. Is that correct?
9:20 p.m.
As an Individual
I would be extremely surprised if the decision were to be yes; in other words, I think the decision is no.
9:25 p.m.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Okay.
What makes other 5G technology providers more trustworthy, since some of them rely in part on business from the People's Republic of China?
9:25 p.m.
As an Individual
The issue of 5G and Huawei is not simply an issue of Huawei. The reality of the new 5G system is that it is potentially attackable by a wide variety of intelligence agencies and others around the world. If Huawei is not part of the system, it does not mean that there is no potential for an attack on your 5G system. That goes without saying. No matter what system is put in place or who manages it, it will require care, it will require inspection and it will require certainty as to the suppliers.
The issue with Huawei is simply the question of having a company that is a Chinese company, and while it's not directly controlled by the Chinese state, it is a company within the control of the Chinese state—
9:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bergeron.
We'll now go to Mr. Harris for two and a half minutes, please.
9:25 p.m.
NDP
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Thank you, Chair.
Mr. Elcock, you have a background as a lawyer, and I'm told by biographical notes that you worked also in the Privy Council Office and as a special adviser to the minister for the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources.
We know that China is very interested in resources in Canada, particularly rare minerals, and is interested in other specialty activities. Do you see that as a potential issue and does the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement present a barrier for us in having some say over what the nature of the Chinese activity in Canada might be for minerals that are very desirable but perhaps in very short supply?
9:25 p.m.
As an Individual
No. My understanding of the law is that it would not prevent Canada from preventing such an acquisition from being made.
Obviously, on the issue of the nature of the mineral product, if it is rare earths, for example, it would obviously be of much more concern than if it is something more innocuous like, say, tin or whatever. Obviously, all of those issues are important in looking at any acquisition by the Chinese and any takeover by the Chinese. In the event that there were to be such a takeover or an acquisition, the government could take action if it believed that it was a national security risk.
9:25 p.m.
NDP
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
I just saw an opinion piece a couple of days ago talking about the future of our relationship with China, and there was an argument being made that the EU should abandon ratification of its comprehensive agreement on investment with China to help forge a different approach in terms of what kinds of investment and support for Chinese enterprise should be permitted as we move forward.
Do you have any views on what kinds of investment relations Canada should have with China, and vice versa?
9:25 p.m.
As an Individual
I think that is something, frankly, on which we should proceed very carefully. The reality is that there are risks to some acquisitions and some takeovers, but not necessarily all of them.
I, for example, have—
9:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
I'm sorry. I have to conclude, but I want to thank the witnesses very much. We appreciate very much your appearance this evening and your testimony. That concludes our—
9:25 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Chair, could we not take some additional time?
9:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
We have about 30 seconds before the time scheduled for the meeting is over. If it's the will of members to continue.... I don't know how long we can have interpreters. I don't think we have them for very long.
9:25 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
What if we extend for eight minutes and give each party equal time? We did start late.
9:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
Let me see if there's agreement to extend. Mr. Genuis is asking for eight minutes.
By the way, on starting late, I was on at 6:15 to do my sound check. If members would all come before 6:30 to do that, it would be very helpful and appreciated and we would start on time as we should. I'm not going to be taking responsibility for the fact that we didn't start at 6:30. The meeting is scheduled 6:30 to 9:30.
Go ahead, Monsieur Lightbound.
9:30 p.m.
Liberal
Joël Lightbound Liberal Louis-Hébert, QC
Excuse me, Mr. Chair. I have a point of order.
I was disconnected from the meeting, so I'm not sure whether I'm jumping in at the wrong time. I just want to set the record straight in relation to a question Pierre Paul-Hus asked. He claimed that—
9:30 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Chair, on a point of order, this sounds substantive, but if Mr. Lightbound will agree to my proposal for two minutes each, then he will have two minutes to do precisely what he seeks to do.