The China File — On the Record
The Beijing Connection.
Six Steps. All Documented.
Carney called China "Canada's biggest security threat" during the campaign. Months later he signed a strategic partnership, brought a floor-crossing MP with Beijing-aligned ties to the official visit, and his government erased the language of forced labour from its own goals. The Prime Minister's office then told Parliament he never raised human rights with Xi — and called that document "an error."
|
266–0
House of Commons Vote — February 22, 2021
The House voted unanimously that China's treatment of Uyghurs constitutes genocide. All opposition parties and dozens of Liberal MPs voted yes. Cabinet abstained.
That was then. Here is what has happened since.
|
From that unanimous vote to this week's committee hearing, here is the timeline in order:
|
December 11, 2025
Michael Ma Crosses the Floor — Carney Welcomes Him That Night
Conservative MP for Markham-Unionville defects to the Liberals. Carney personally welcomes him at the Liberal holiday party the same evening. Energy Minister Tim Hodgson was reported to be involved in recruiting Ma. In 2019, Ma was listed as a director of the Chinese Canadian Conservative Association — a diaspora organization that has echoed Beijing-aligned talking points.
|
|
|
January 16, 2026
Carney Signs "Strategic Partnership" With Beijing — Ma Joins the Trip
Carney signs a deal in Beijing allowing 49,000 Chinese EVs into Canada at a 6.1% tariff — down from 100%. During the 2025 campaign he called China "Canada's biggest security threat." Now he calls the relationship a "strategic partnership." Michael Ma, who crossed the floor just five weeks earlier, joins the official delegation to Beijing.
Biggest Security Threat → Strategic Partner
|
|
|
March 2026
His Office Tells Parliament: Carney Did Not Raise Human Rights With Xi
The Privy Council Office submits a report to Parliament stating that "human rights and foreign interference were not brought up proactively" by Carney during his meeting with Xi Jinping. The office later says the document was "submitted in error" and files a corrected version. The government has not explained which account of the meeting is accurate.
Submitted "In Error"
|
|
|
March 13, 2026
Global Affairs Quietly Drops "Forced Labour" from Its Goals
The Global Affairs Canada Departmental Plan 2026–27 removes "forced labour" from its stated priorities — erasing language that appeared in both the 2022 and 2025–26 plans. The 2022 plan explicitly stated: "Canada will continue to speak out against China's repression of the Uyghur and Tibetan peoples." That commitment is now gone. CTV's Annie Bergeron-Oliver reported the deletion on March 28.
Quietly Removed
|
|
|
March 26, 2026
Ma Calls Forced Labour Evidence "Hearsay" — Expert Is "Dumbfounded"
At a parliamentary committee studying Chinese EV imports, Ma aggressively questions expert Margaret McCuaig-Johnston — former federal Assistant Deputy Minister, University of Ottawa fellow. He asks whether she has personally witnessed forced labour and whether her evidence amounts to "hearsay." She cites Human Rights Watch research. After the meeting, Ma tells her he doesn't believe in reports — and offers to take a trip to China together to check. He refused the report she tried to hand him.
Floor-Crosser Defends Beijing
|
|
|
March 27–28, 2026
Hodgson Deflects. Carney Cancels His Press Conference. Beijing Responds.
Hodgson defers Ma questions to Carney while claiming Ma acknowledged his views "did not reflect Liberal party views" — a claim Ma's own apology does not support. Carney cancels his scheduled press conference. The government's official statement condemns forced labour but will not name China. The Chinese Embassy calls forced labour allegations a "blatant lie" — and the government does not push back.
PM Cancels Press Conference
|
|
Michael Ma — After Committee Hearing — March 26, 2026
"I don't believe in reports, I only believe in things that I can see with my own eyes."
— To Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, after she offered him the Human Rights Watch report on forced labour in China. Ma then suggested they take a trip to China together to verify it themselves.
Margaret McCuaig-Johnston — Expert Witness — March 26, 2026
"I looked around the committee as if to say, 'Is he kidding?' Because no Westerner can go to China and see forced labour. They would never let you anywhere close to that."
— Senior Fellow, University of Ottawa; former federal Assistant Deputy Minister. She said Ma "was trying to undermine my credibility."
Energy Minister Tim Hodgson — March 27, 2026
"We don't need to have public discussions about where we disagree. We make that clear to our friends in China."
— On the government's approach to forced labour. Hodgson was reportedly involved in recruiting Ma to cross the floor.
Either Way, It's Damning
Either Carney went to Beijing and did not raise human rights with Xi Jinping — the leader whose government the House of Commons declared is committing genocide — or his office filed a false report to Parliament about what was discussed. Both versions are serious. The government has not explained which one is true.
Follow the Silence
The Pattern in Six Steps
|
Step 01
Recruit the MP
Michael Ma crosses the floor. Hodgson helps recruit him. Carney welcomes him at the holiday party. Ma joins the PM's official trip to Beijing weeks later.
|
Step 02
Sign the Deal
Carney signs the "strategic partnership" with China. 49,000 EVs allowed in. The man who called China "Canada's biggest security threat" now calls it a partner.
|
|
Step 03
Erase the Language
Global Affairs quietly drops "forced labour" from its departmental goals. The 2022 commitment to speak out against China's repression of the Uyghur and Tibetan peoples disappears.
|
Step 04
Question the Evidence
At committee, Ma asks if forced labour evidence is "hearsay." Tells the expert he doesn't believe in reports. Suggests a trip to China to check. The committee descends into chaos.
|
|
Step 05
Deflect and Disappear
Hodgson says "we don't need public discussions." Carney cancels his press conference. The government's official statement condemns forced labour but will not say "China."
|
Step 06
Beijing Responds
The Chinese Embassy calls forced labour a "blatant lie." The government does not push back on this characterization. Canada's official position: silence.
|
The Verdict
In 2021, the House of Commons voted 266-0 that China is committing genocide. That was the Canadian government's documented, unanimous position. Since then: the language of forced labour has been erased from official goals, a floor-crossing MP with Beijing-aligned associations was recruited, brought to Beijing, and then used a parliamentary committee to cast doubt on the evidence of genocide — while the Prime Minister cancelled his press conference and his minister said Canada doesn't need "public discussions" about disagreements with its "friends in China."
The Chinese Embassy calls the evidence a lie. The Canadian government says nothing. That silence is a choice — and Canadians deserve to know it was made.