On January 10, Canadian Prime Minister Harper had a special greeting clip delivered to the Ottawa organizing committee of Chinese New Year Spectacular two days before the Show.
In the larger picture, China has the highest number of executions in the world–not surprising in a country where 68 separate offences warrant the death penalty. The population is constantly monitored on the Internet, aided by western high-tech giants like Google, and the crackdowns on popular protests, whether for the return of seized land or simply religious freedom, can be brutal.
The Prime Minister said he would not downplay Canadian values for the sake of the “almighty dollar”. And “neglecting human rights hasn’t opened a lot of doors”, considering the size of Canada’s trade deficit with China. Canada has become a leading venue for Falun Gong activity.
