Tories push for Huawei decision

OTTAWA • Chinese telecom giant Huawei rose to dominance by stealing the technology of the defunct Canadian firm Nortel, Conservative Leader Erin O’toole says.

O’ Toole levelled the industrial- espionage charge against Huawei and the Chinese Communist Party on Tuesday as he announced that the Conservatives are pushing the Liberals to decide within 30 days which companies can provide Canada’s next- generation 5G wireless internet technology.

“The rise of Huawei was itself facilitated by years of industrial espionage conducted by China against Nortel,” O’toole said on Parliament Hill.

“Intellectual property theft, counterfeiting and digital piracy are not exceptions to our dealings with China. They are the reality, and it’s high time our government and many corporate leaders realize that.

“We may have lost Nortel to Huawei but we can and must learn from it. Because if we don’t, we have to accept that another company will be next.”

The Conservatives are tabling a motion in the House of Commons that demands the government decide whether Huawei should be banned from participating in Canadian 5G networks amid the ongoing diplomatic dispute between Canada and the People’s Republic.

China has imprisoned two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, in apparent retaliation for the RCMP’S arresting Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou nearly two years ago on a U.S. extradition warrant.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was noncommittal Tuesday on the timing of his government’s long- awaited 5G decision. He reiterated his government’s position that it is relying on the advice of security and intelligence agencies, is consulting with allies, and is committed to keeping Canadians and their businesses safe.