Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there is a fundamental difference between Canada鈥檚 troubled relationship with Indigenous Peoples, and China鈥檚 systemic abuse and human rights violations against ethnic Muslim Uyghurs.
Trudeau says Canada knows its relationship with Indigenous Peoples is broken but it had a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and is working to try and address the issues.
China, he says, isn鈥檛 even willing to admit there is a problem.
鈥淲here is China鈥檚 Truth and Reconciliation Commission?鈥� Trudeau asked at a news conference outside his Ottawa home Tuesday.
鈥淲here is their truth? Where is the openness that Canada has always shown, and the responsibility that Canada has taken for the terrible mistakes of the past, and indeed, many of which continue into the present?鈥�
His comments came shortly after a diplomatic showdown between Canada and China at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Switzerland Tuesday.
Canada鈥檚 ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Leslie Norton, read a statement on behalf of 44 countries urging China to allow 鈥渋mmediate, meaningful and unfettered access鈥� so independent observers can visit its western Xinjiang region.
At the same meeting Chinese envoy Jiang Duan demanded Canada stop its violations of human rights in its own backyard.
鈥淲e urge Canada to immediately stop violations of human rights,鈥� he said, adding that UN bodies should 鈥渒eep following the human rights issues in Canada.鈥�
鈥淐anada has also repeatedly used human rights as an instrument to promote its political agenda,鈥� Jiang said.
He criticized Canada鈥檚 past mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples and the recent discovery of the remains of more than 200 children at an Indigenous residential school in Canada. He called for a 鈥渢horough and impartial investigation鈥� into cases of crimes against Indigenous Peoples and faulted racism and xenophobia in Canada.
China鈥檚 statement about Canada came with the support of Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Iran and Syria, mainly countries with whom Canada鈥檚 relationship is strained, if there is one at all.
Canada鈥檚 statement had the backing of 44 countries on five continents, though the list is dominated by North American and European allies.
鈥淲e are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region,鈥� Norton said, in a statement backed by 43 other countries.
She cited credible reports of arbitrary detention and widespread surveillance, as well as 鈥渢orture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, forced sterilization, sexual and gender-based violence, and forced separation of children from their parents by authorities.鈥�
鈥淲e urge China to allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers, including the High Commissioner, and to urgently implement the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination鈥檚 8 recommendations related to Xinjiang, including by ending the arbitrary detention of Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities.鈥�
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has been trying since the start of her tenure in 2018 to arrange a visit to Xinjiang and she said Monday she hoped to carry one out by year鈥檚 end.
Norton acknowledged to the meeting Canada has 鈥渉istorically denied the rights of Indigenous peoples through assimilationist policies and practices.鈥�
鈥淲e know that the world expects Canada to adhere to international human rights standards,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e, too, expect no less of ourselves.鈥�
Trudeau said Canada has been making attempts to do so through a long journey towards reconciliation.
鈥淐hina is not recognizing even that there is a problem,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat is a pretty fundamental difference. And that is why Canadians and people from around the world are speaking up for people like the Uyghurs who find themselves voiceless, faced with a government that will not recognize what鈥檚 happening to them.鈥�
鈥擬ia Rabson, The Canadian Press
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