Canada’s rights policy may prove costly

ottawa — Canada’s determination to place human rights at the heart of its foreign policy could cost it billions in trade with an incensed Saudi Arabia — the price of a diplomatic initiative that some observers say could pay off in the long run.

Since Riyadh announced the expulsion of Ottawa’s ambassador and a severing of trade ties on Monday, several top officials have reiterated Justin Trudeau’s mantra since becoming prime minister in 2015: there can be no compromise on the country’s progressive principles.

“We are going to lead with our values,” Finance Minister Bill Morneau said on Tuesday.

“It’s important that we bring Canadian values around the world, and we are going to continue to enunciate what we believe are the appropriate ways of dealing with citizens.”

Canada has long pressed Saudi Arabia for the release of jailed blogger Raif Badawi, after granting asylum in 2013 to his wife and their three children.

A Twitter message calling on Riyadh to “immediately release” his sister and other women’s rights activists appears to have tipped the scale.

But that so-called ethics-based approach has its downsides.

In addition to the diplomatic rupture, Saudi Arabia also suspended scholarships for more than 15,000 Saudi students in Canada with plans to relocate them to other countries, and the state airline Saudia suspended flights to Toronto.

Canada had been eager to boost investment and exports to Saudi Arabia as the kingdom diversifies its economy.

The first possible big hit Canada could suffer relates to the sale of light armoured vehicles to the kingdom, worth CAN$15 billion.

Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Monday she “looks forward” to hearing from Riyadh about the future of the deal.

The clash with the Saudis is not the first time Canada risked losing major business over its “rights first” diplomacy.

Earlier this year, the Philippines cancelled a defence contract for 14 Canadian helicopters after Trudeau’s government ordered a review of President Rodrigo Duterte’s rights record.

Canada’s insistence on environmental protections in new trade deals has also made negotiations harder, for example, with the United States and Mexico, and with China.

“There is a moment when politically we must make choices,” said Ferry de Kerckhove, a professor at the University of Ottawa.

“It is clear that, in the eyes of the world, there is a perception of Canada as one of the last bastions of the defence of the international liberal order, both economic, political and social,” he said.

Analysts, however, questioned what, if anything, Canada has gained by squaring off with Riyadh.

“This has nothing to do with human rights. That’s just a poor excuse,” Amir Attaran, a professor at the University of Ottawa, said. “There are geopolitics at play, particularly the strategic and theocratic rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

And Saudi Arabia is taking aim at Canada over Trudeau’s refusal to endorse sanctions on rival Iran.”

David Chatterson, a former Canadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, was blunt.

“Was our objective to mitigate the circumstances for Mr Badawi? If so, we failed. Was it to influence the broader direction of Saudi Arabia? I don’t think we achieved that,” he said. “Have we advanced any Canadian interests? No. It was a total failure.”

It’s important that we bring Canadian values around the world. We are going to continue to enunciate what we believe are the appropriate ways of dealing with citizens Bill Morneau, Canada Finance Minister

Was our objective to mitigate the circumstances for Mr Badawi? If so, we failed. Was it to influence the broader direction of Saudi Arabia? I don’t think we achieved that David Chatterson, A former Canadian ambassador