Ambassador to China John McCallum was fired because of comments 鈥渋nconsistent with the Government of Canada,鈥� according to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland.
The prime minister's office announced Saturday that ambassador McCallum had been told to hand in his resignation -- just hours after he weighed in on a high-stakes extradition case for the second time in less than a week.
McCallum opined twice on the Meng case, even though he apologized for misspeaking the first time, sowing further chaos in Canada's relations with China, and raising concerns about the government's efforts to win the release of detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.
鈥淭he first and foremost job of any ambassador is to express accurately our government鈥檚 position and that is what made it untenable for Ambassador McCallum to remain in his role,鈥� Freeland told gathered reporters at the House of Commons on Monday afternoon. 鈥淥ur government鈥檚 efforts on this issue are unrelenting, it is an absolute priority for me, the prime minister and our entire government.鈥�
Kovrig and Spavor are being detained in China for what many analysts say is revenge for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver in December, at the request of the U.S.
On Monday evening, U.S. authorities unsealed a 13-count indictment against Meng, Huawei and the company鈥檚 subsidiary Skycom that alleges the company lied about the level of its business in Iran. Meng herself has been charged with bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracies to commit bank and wire fraud for her alleged role in the matter.
Late Monday, the U.S. formally requested Meng鈥檚 extradition.
A separate indictment alleges Huawei offered bonuses to employees who stole confidential information from other companies. The 10-count indictment, filed in Washington State, includes charges of theft of trade secrets conspiracy, attempted theft of trade secrets, seven counts of wire fraud, and one count of obstruction of justice.
Freeland said that despite McCallum鈥檚 comments about the Huawei case over the past week, she still considered him a remarkable public servant and one of Canada鈥檚 foremost economists. He鈥檚 been replaced by his number two in Beijing, Jim Nickel.
When asked how much of a setback McCallum鈥檚 resignation is in the case of Kovrig and Spavor, Freeland said the government was committed to a resolution.
鈥淭he situation last week was unfortunate. It in no way changes our government鈥檚 direction,鈥� she said.
She added that the government was looking into reports of a third Canadian arrested in China.
The South China Morning Post, citing local media, says the 61-year-old is accused of trying to defraud an unnamed entertainment company out of C$375 million.
With files from The Canadian Press
