The GNWT has shelved its trade mission to China following diplomatic tensions and the arrests of Canadian citizens.
After Canadian authorities arrested ChinaSA国际影视传媒檚 Huawei Technologies chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in December at the Vancouver airport, China detained approximately a dozen Canadians, including entrepreneur Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat.
SA国际影视传媒淭he fact that a number of individuals were apprehended in China gives us pause to think,SA国际影视传媒� said Premier Bob McLeod.
SA国际影视传媒淲e were planning a trade mission to China for this year, but we have since put it on the back burner. We are waiting to see what happens.SA国际影视传媒�
For more than a decade, government resources have been poured into promoting NWT tourism in the worldSA国际影视传媒檚 most populous nation.
The GNWT is assuring its partners abroad that the NWT is open for business. Destinations Canada, which has an office in Beijing, has reassured the government that itSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渟till business as usual,SA国际影视传媒� said McLeod.
The government may still send delegates before the end of this term of government, he said.
Yellowknife North MLA Cory Vanthuyne expressed concerns that the prosperous tourism relationship between the territory and China could be put at risk by diplomatic tensions.
Vanthuyne acknowledged that while Canada has international responsibilities, the recent arrests have burned bridges and left international relations SA国际影视传媒渧ulnerable and weak.SA国际影视传媒�
Speaking in the NWT legislative assembly, Feb. 14, Vanthuyne asked the GNWT to remind Ottawa about the potential risks to NWT tourism.
SA国际影视传媒淟etSA国际影视传媒檚 be energetic in making sure Ottawa understands the potential risks to our growing tourism sector, and our access to this huge market of travellers,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
McLeod maintained that the Chinese government's SA国际影视传媒渢ighteningSA国际影视传媒� on Canadian regional investments and business has had a limited effect on the NWT.
Despite the inflamed situation, Chinese government hasn't removed Canada as an SA国际影视传媒渁pproved destination.SA国际影视传媒�
McLeod said the federal government has not reached out to the territorial government in relation to this issue.
