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Relations between Canada and China have been at a low point since Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested more than a year ago on an American extradition request. China, in what has been viewed as retaliation, arrested Kovrig and Spavor and they have been held in custody since.

Liberal MP Rob Oliphant, the parliamentary secretary to the foreign affairs minister, said he hoped committee members take into account the risks Spavor and Kovrig are facing.

“Our number one priority is their safety, so as we do our work, we need to do it cautiously. We need to do it carefully. We need to exercise great discretion.”

Meng’s extradition hearing got underway in Vancouver on Monday. She has been free on house arrest awaiting the hearing, while Spavor and Kovrig have been jailed the entire time, with no access to legal counsel or their families, and only limited consular access.

Our government has been clear that we are a rule of law country

In an op-ed this past weekend in the Globe and Mail, former prime minister Jean Chrétien’s chief of staff Eddie Goldenberg called for a prisoner swap to get the two men home from China.

Deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland swiftly rejected that idea on Monday.

“Our government has been clear that we are a rule of law country and that we honour our extradition treaty commitments,” she said. “That is what we need to do and that is what we will do.”

China has also banned Canadian canola imports leading to major issues for Canadian farmers. Doherty said that can’t continue.