‘Lead with our values’
OTTAWA — Finance Minister Bill Morneau says Canada will continue to “enunciate” what it believes are the appropriate ways of dealing with citizens, despite its ongoing diplomatic tumult with Saudi Arabia.
Morneau says Canada has strong trading relationships around the world, and as a result needs to “lead with our values.”
Saudi Arabia expelled Canada’s ambassador, declared a freeze on new trade and recalled thousands of students attending Canadian universities following a tweet last week from Global Affairs Canada that expressed concerns about the arrest of activists in the kingdom.
Morneau, however, isn’t saying much about Canada’s $15-billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia or what sort of lasting economic impact the dispute could have.
He says Canada will stand with values important to Canadians, even as Saudi Arabia continues to “take the decisions that they will take.”
Morneau says his message to business owners is that Canada is doing well economically and must continue to remain competitive.
Mor-neau largely echoed Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, who said Monday that there was “nothing newor novel” about Canada’s longstanding position on human rights around the world, and that Ottawa is awaiting more details from the kingdom before responding further.