The Conservatives shadow minister for Canada-China relations says it’s important for Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne to appear before parliamentarians and answer questions related to his mortgage debt with the Chinese state-controlled Bank of China.
“He hasn’t shown up to clarify this debt he has to the Chinese government or explain himself in terms of how, with this financial relationship with China, Canadians should trust him with navigating Canada’s relationship with China,” Conservative MP Garnett Genuis told The Epoch Times.
Reports surfaced last week that Champagne owes a total of $1.2 million to the Bank of China on two mortgages. Observers say such financial obligations to the Beijing regime makes Champagne vulnerable, and it’s imperative that he clarifies whether there is a conflict of interest.
“What is the impact on the policy making? Three quarters of Canadians don’t want Huawei involved in our 5G network, so will the minister put the interest of Canadians ahead of the interest of his creditors and say no to Huawei?” Genuis said at the session.
Rodriquez responded by saying that the information about the mortgage is available online.
“The colleague [Genuis] is trying to connect the dots, and you know, I don’t know exactly where he is going from here, but everything is public,” he said.
Earlier, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer had asked Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland if she deems it appropriate to have “a minister of the crown owning an arm of the Chinese government over $1 million.”
Freeland defended Champagne, saying, “it has been clearly disclosed. Everyone is aware of it, including all relevant government agencies and our Ethics Commissioner, and Canadians have all the transparency they need.”
But Genuis says Champagne should show up before parliamentarians and answer for himself.
“When the minister owes over a million dollars to the Chinese government, people have a right to ask him questions. When will the minister of foreign affairs show up?” Genuis said.
On June 12, as members of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations, Genuis and his fellow Conservative MPs Dan Albas, Leona Alleslev, and John Williamson wrote to committee clerk Christine Holke requesting an emergency meeting where Champagne would answer questions about his financial dealings, in addition to other matters pertaining to China such as Hong Kong and the global pandemic response.
The letter noted that “members of all opposition parties have made clear public comments expressing support for the return to operation of this committee. These members constitute a majority of the committee.”
Champagne’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
