A progressive government can and should take a principled approach to foreign policy. That means Canada’s Liberals must stop pitting good jobs at home against human rights abroad.
A year after an infamous Twitter spat and the gruesome murder of Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, the Canada-Saudi relationship appears poised to return to business as usual, if it hasn’t already.
Why is Canada’s labour movement so quiet on the Saudi arms deal? It should be a voice for peace and human rights and demand that the Canadian government immediately cancel the deal.
Ottawa’s response to Jamal Khashoggi’s murder doubles down on “human rights” rhetoric while failing to take action. It’s a matter of the death of some in exchange for the livelihood of others.