PM, leaders denounce U of O for banning cameras at Chinese ambassador’s lecture | 24CA News
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is amongst a number of Canadian leaders to criticize the University of Ottawa for banning cameras at an occasion with the Chinese ambassador to Canada, Cong Peiwu, at one in every of its lecture halls on Monday — calling it an obstruction of the liberty of the press.
Thousands of Chinese folks have taken to the streets of Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and several other different Chinese cities for a number of days to protest the zero COVID coverage over the previous week. Meanwhile, the Chinese ambassador to Canada held a convention on the University of Ottawa titled, China and the World: Development, Trade and Governance within the twenty first Century.
Journalists from varied media had been there, when hastily, the college agreed to adjust to Cong’s calls for to ban the presence of cameras within the room. A Radio-Canada cameraman was proven the door.
The college proceeded to decrease the blinds so as to conceal the view of a demonstration in assist of Uyghurs, which was being held on the similar time exterior the constructing.
‘Extremely unlucky’ and ‘undemocratic’: critics
That resolution didn’t go over nicely with the prime minister.
“For me, they made a mistake, banning the cameras,” Trudeau mentioned, including that it’s normal apply for media to have entry to public figures in Canada.
Several different politicians and specialists additionally denounced the college’s resolution. Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez mentioned freedom of the press ought to have taken priority over the needs of the ambassador.
“I find that extremely unfortunate. Our country was built on the principle of freedom. Often, we are happy to see you [journalists], sometimes less so. But you still have your business to be there. And in Canada, freedom of the press is non-negotiable,” he mentioned.
The chief of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet, mentioned he was anxious in regards to the message the University of Ottawa was sending to younger folks.
“We must remind the University of Ottawa that the word diplomat does not apply so easily to someone who represents the Chinese Communist Party. We’re talking more about a bully,” Blanchet mentioned in French.
“That the University of Ottawa lent itself to this seems to me unworthy of an institution that is supposed to play a strong role with young people. If one of my children told me that it tempts him to go to the University of Ottawa, I will say to him, ‘do you have a plan B, please?'”
New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh burdened the significance of Canada’s democratic values.
“We must have transparency, we must support freedom of the media. This is fundamental for a democratic society,” he mentioned.
Marc-François Bernier, a journalism professor on the University of Ottawa, known as the resolution “undemocratic,” significantly as a result of the college has a digital journalism program.
According to Bernier, the college would have had extra to realize by being stern with the ambassador.
He mentioned the college would not have seemed unhealthy if the convention was cancelled.
Instead, he mentioned the college “bent under the threat … of a totalitarian and authoritarian view.”
The president of the Professional Federation of Journalists of Quebec, Michaël Nguyen, additionally denounced the choice.
“It’s a slippery slope, very dangerous, and I weigh my words when I say that in Canada we must be able to respect the Canadian rules of practice in relation to journalism,” he mentioned.
University says it will not occur once more
University president Jacques Frémont tweeted in French Wednesday morning that the college made the unsuitable resolution on the final second, and apologized to the media concerned.
“We should have done better to protect the freedom of the press.”
Concerning the cameraman who was prevented from filming on the Chinese Ambassador’s convention, we made the unsuitable resolution on the final second. We apologize to the media concerned. We ought to have performed higher to guard the liberty of the press.
—@recteurUOpres
In a written assertion, a University of Ottawa spokesperson burdened that its convention was susceptible to being cancelled if the cameras had been admitted and mentioned that journalists had entry to it.
The college additionally promised to do issues in a different way subsequent time.
“In order to ensure that this regrettable situation does not happen again, the university will try in the future to be clearer with its speakers before holding events, on the possible presence of media,” wrote Jesse Robichaud, a spokesperson with the college.
