Yorkregion.com - Editorials - Links key, but so are human rights
Links key, but so are human rights
Editorials
Apr 10, 2008 12:50 AM
As the world is rocked by protests over China’s civil rights violations on the eve of the Beijing Olympics and governments ponder whether or not to allow their athletes to attend the Games, it’s worth noting trips to China by York Region politicians continue.
The question is should they?
City councillors from Vaughan returned from a trip there last month. A delegation of businesspeople and politicians from Markham is in China right now. Politicians from Richmond Hill said they may take a trip.
In many cases, delegations include regional councillors, so they are in China on behalf of their local constituents and people across York Region.
One may question the value of these trips. For instance, Vaughan politicians seemed unable to say what concrete results they achieved in terms of contracts signed or commitments from Chinese businesses to set up shop in Canada, or whatever it is they were hoping to achieve.
“I compare this mission to courting, going on a date,” Regional Councillor Joyce Frustaglio said. “People need to give these trips time to flourish.”
Others have taken exception to the cost, or fact some politicians would be flying business class on the taxpayers’ dime.
But now the trips themselves are under fire. Toronto Mayor David Miller was forced to defend his trip, in light of a crackdown on protests in Tibet. The provincial Tories attacked a trade junket by the province’s trade minister, Sandra Pupatello, on the same grounds.
Should these trips by their counterparts in York Region be cancelled?
It is true China has become an economic powerhouse. With our large Chinese-Canadian population in York Region, we are in a good position to forge ties. Indeed, our future may depend on links to the booming Chinese economy, in the same way good relations with our neighbours south of the border is so important to us.
But it is also incumbent on our representatives to carry a message that human rights are important to us, that they are a cornerstone of our country.
We admire China’s progress but we also share the concerns expressed by others.
It does not suffice to say human rights issues are a federal matter.
If that’s what municipal and provincial politicians believe, then they should leave the trade missions to the feds.