OTTAWA—Opposition parties banded together Tuesday evening to force the creation of a special committee on Canada-China relations in a move that drove home Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new reality as the leader of a minority government.

MPs voted 171 to 148 to create a parliamentary committee to study “all aspects” of the relationship between Canada and China at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions between Ottawa and Beijing.

The minority Liberals opposed the motion, with Trudeau and most of his cabinet present for the vote. The Conservatives, Bloc Québécois, New Democrats and Greens — along with Independent MP Jody Wilson-Raybould — supported the committee’s formation.

It was a victory for the opposition Conservatives, who have long accused the Trudeau government of mishandling the crucial relationship with one of the world’s ascendant superpowers.

“In the end, Canadians will know that the situation was looked at in a very effective manner, and that (with) all parties so people can be assured that the interests of our citizens, of our exporters, are being safeguarded as much as possible,” said Erin O’Toole, the Conservative critic for foreign affairs, in an interview after the vote.

The all-party committee will be given a broad mandate to investigate the Canada-China relationship, with the motion explicitly mentioning national security issues, diplomatic ties, economic issues and consular affairs.

Its investigation will take place against the backdrop of a widening diplomatic rift between Beijing and Ottawa. since Canadian authorities arrested Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive at Chinese telecom giant Huawei, at the Vancouver airport in December 2018. The Canadian authorities were acting at the request of U.S. law enforcement, who requested Meng’s extradition on fraud charges.

Soon after, Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were detained by authorities in China on national security grounds.

On Tuesday, a year after Kovrig and Spavor were arrested, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry told reporters their cases had been transferred to prosecutors in order for them to face trial. A report from The Associated Press in Beijing suggested the trials could be held behind closed doors.

A request to China’s embassy in Ottawa to clarify the situation was not returned Tuesday night. Global Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the Conservatives’ motion.

Since the diplomatic spat began, Canada has faced limitations on China-bound agricultural exports of canola seed, pork and beef that have cost Canadian farmers millions.

Canada’s intelligence community is also conducting a review into Huawei’s potential participation in the country’s next generation 5G wireless infrastructure.

The release of that review was delayed until after the federal election, and has still not been made public. With the U.S. strongly urging a ban on Huawei, and with current tensions with Beijing, that review carries with it significant foreign policy considerations.

Liberal MPs had argued against the creation of a special committee, arguing that existing parliamentary committees — on foreign affairs, national defence and trade — could undertake their own studies on the various aspects of Canada’s relationship with China.

“We all agree that the Canada-China relationship is incredibly important, and we are all exploring all of those issues when it comes to human rights, when it comes to democracy, when it comes to trade, and when it comes to our security,” International Development Minister Karina Gould told the House of Commons Tuesday.

“Of course, the House and Parliament have many standing committees that deal with the issues, and we look forward to seeing how the committees decide to manage their own business.”

But at the end of the day, it was the House of Commons that determined how to handle its business.

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O’Toole told the Star that he thinks it’s a sign of things to come, as the Liberals grapple with losing their majority and the opposition parties learn to work together on areas of common interest.

“It was a neat way to start,” said O’Toole, who praised Champagne for reaching out to the opposition early in the life of this Parliament.

“I think it showed a serious, mature approach by the opposition worked.”

With files from Star’s wire services.

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