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The federal government is under intense political pressure to expel foreign diplomats from Canada. Such evictions are rare – but they do happen.
Earlier this week, the Globe and Mail reported that Zhao Wei, a diplomat at the Chinese consulate in Toronto, allegedly attempted to threaten a family member of Conservative MP Michael Chong.
Chong, whose father is from Hong Kong, has relatives in China. The Chinese Embassy in Canada and Beijing’s foreign affairs spokeswoman denied the allegations.
Conservatives have repeatedly demanded that the Trudeau government explain why it has not sent Zhao packing. Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said on Thursday that the government had not made a decision.
On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would not say whether his government plans to oust Zhao.
“It’s a big step, not a small step, to expel diplomats. It’s something that needs to be done considering all the potential impacts and all the very clear messages it will send,” Trudeau said.
“That’s something [Joly] look carefully, see all the information around, and he will make a decision at the right time.
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The government can expel Zhao at any time – legally, it does not have to give a reason for the move. This will be done only by declaring Zhao persona non grataa Latin phrase meaning “people are not welcome.”
Canada is a signatory to the 1961 Vienna Convention, a United Nations treaty. Article nine of the convention states that a state “may, at any time and without having to explain its decision, notify the sending State that the head of the mission or a member of the diplomatic staff of the mission persona non grata.”
Canada can also declare foreign diplomats persona non grata before coming to this country.
Expulsion is often the country’s only option for sanctioning foreign diplomats. Article 31 of the Vienna Convention grants immunity to diplomats from criminal prosecution and in most civil matters when posted to a foreign country.
Canada has expelled diplomats from several countries over the years.
In 2018, Canada expelled four Russian diplomats and rejected three Russian applications for additional diplomatic staff. Foreign Minister at the time Chrystia Freeland cited nerve gas attacks on Russian dissidents in Britain as the reason for the decision. The move was made in concert with several allies.
In 2013, according to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, Canada expelled an Eritrean diplomat, Semere Ghebremariam O. Micael. He is the head of the Eritrean consulate general in Toronto. Media outlets have reported O. Micael allegedly asked for a “diaspora tax” on Eritreans in Canada.
“The Eritrean government is welcome to propose other candidates to represent in Canada, but people who must be prepared to play by the rules. We decided this issue should not be further tested,” said Baird in a news release on the expulsion.
A year earlier, Canada expelled all Syrian diplomats in response to the Houla massacre in the Syrian Civil War.
Syria was not the only Canadian country to cut diplomatic ties in 2012. In September of that year, the government announced that all Iranian diplomats had been expelled. persona non grataclosing the Iranian embassy in Ottawa and closing the Canadian embassy in Tehran.
“Canada’s position on the regime in Iran is well known. Canada considers the Iranian government to be the most important threat to global peace and security in the world today,” Baird said in a press release.
“The Iranian regime has shown complete disregard for the Vienna Convention and its guarantees of protection for diplomatic personnel.”
Andrei Knyazev, a Russian diplomat living in Ottawa, drove his car into a sidewalk in 2001, killing a pedestrian and seriously injuring another. Knyazev refused a breathalyzer test, citing diplomatic immunity. Canada later expelled him and Russia’s foreign minister was fired.
A Moscow court found Knyazev guilty of reckless conduct and sentenced him to four years in a penal colony.
Knyazev’s case preceded two similar incidents involving diplomats and drunk driving, including one that led to Japan recalling a diplomat accused of DUI in 2002.
Canada expelled two Chinese diplomats in the 1970s after Canada established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1970. A Globe and Mail report, citing confidential sources, said one Chinese diplomat was ordered to leave in 1977 for trying to influence and infiltrate China – Canada. organization.
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