2.92°C Vancouver

Aug 10, 2021 4:49 PM -

O'Toole warns Canadians not safe in China after court upholds death sentence

Share On
otoole-warns-canadians-not-safe-in-china-after-court-upholds-death-sentence
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole takes questions from the media during a press conference in St. John's on Monday, July 26, 2021. O'Toole is accusing Beijing of using the death penalty for political purposes after a Chinese court upheld a Canadian's death sentence. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

Federal Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole is accusing Beijing of using the death penalty for political purposes after a Chinese court upheld a Canadian's death sentence.

O'Toole is also reopening the door to a Canadian boycott of next year's Winter Olympics in China, warning the Chinese government's recent actions show Canadians are not safe in the country.

O'Toole was commenting after the Higher People's Court of Liaoning Province rejected Canadian Robert Schellenberg's appeal after his sentence in a drug case was increased to the death penalty in 2019.

That coincided with the Chinese government's efforts to pressure Canada into releasing Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou after she was detained in Vancouver on U.S. fraud charges.

China has also arrested and tried two other Canadians, entrepreneur Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig, on spying charges in apparent retaliation for Meng's detention.

A Chinese court is expected to release its verdict in Spavor's case on Wednesday as a Canadian court hears arguments on whether Meng should be handed over to U.S. authorities.

Latest news

heavy-rainfall-closes-highway-16-isolates-prince-rupert-and-parts-of-b-c-north-coast
BCDec 30, 2025

Heavy rainfall closes Highway 16, isolates Prince Rupert and parts of B.C. north coast

Persistent and intense rainfall across British Columbia’s north coast has forced the closure of major highways and temporarily cut off road access to Prince Rupert, raising concerns about travel disruptions and infrastructure damage in the region. Provincial transportation officials say Highway 16, the primary route linking Prince Rupert with Terrace and other inland communities, has been closed in both directions due to flooding. DriveBC reports water over the roadway and unsafe driving conditions following days of sustained rain. Environment Canada says more than 200 millimetres of rain fe
burnaby-rcmp-seize-nearly-4-million-worth-of-drugs-arrest-one-man-after-six-month-investigation
BCDec 30, 2025

Burnaby RCMP seize nearly $4 million worth of drugs, arrest one man after six-month investigation

Burnaby RCMP say a lengthy gang enforcement investigation has led to the seizure of more than 97 kilograms of illicit drugs, over $70,000 in cash, and the arrest of one suspect in Metro Vancouver. Police say the Burnaby RCMP Gang Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at a residence in New Westminster on December 17 as part of a six-month drug trafficking probe. A 29-year-old man was taken into custody and remains under investigation for multiple potential drug-related charges. Officers seized approximately 15 kilograms of cocaine, 41 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 grams of fentanyl, and
one-killed-three-hurt-in-shooting-on-big-island-lake-cree-nation-rcmp-issue-regional-alert
CanadaDec 30, 2025

One killed, three hurt in shooting on Big Island Lake Cree Nation, RCMP issue regional alert

One person has died and three others were injured following a shooting on Big Island Lake Cree Nation in western Saskatchewan, according to RCMP. Police say officers were called to the community Monday morning after reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found one victim deceased at the scene and three others suffering from injuries. RCMP have not released details about the condition of those injured or whether additional people were taken to hospital. Mounties are searching for two suspects who remain at large and are considered armed and dangerous. Investigators are still working to det
odd-complaints-about-haircuts-hornets-and-luggage-top-b-c-s-unusual-911-calls-of-2025
BCDec 30, 2025

Odd complaints about haircuts, hornets and luggage top B.C.’s unusual 911 calls of 2025

British Columbia’s main emergency call centre says complaints about luggage size, a bad haircut and even a household hornet were among the most unusual 911 calls received this year, highlighting ongoing misuse of the emergency line. E-Comm, which answers about 99 per cent of 911 calls across the province, says it handles roughly two million calls annually. While most callers use the service appropriately, officials say a small number continue to call for situations that do not require police, firefighters or paramedics. Among the calls flagged in E-Comm’s year-end list were reports about a
dozens-of-luxury-motorcycles-tied-to-canadian-fugitive-ryan-wedding-seized-in-mexico-fbi-says
CanadaDec 30, 2025

Dozens of luxury motorcycles tied to Canadian fugitive Ryan Wedding seized in Mexico, FBI says

U.S. authorities say they have recovered dozens of high-end motorcycles linked to Ryan Wedding, the former Canadian Olympic snowboarder now accused of leading an international drug trafficking operation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates the motorcycles, seized during raids in Mexico City and the surrounding State of Mexico, are worth approximately US$40 million. The raids, conducted last week, targeted four properties connected to a suspect whose description matches Wedding’s, according to Mexico’s Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection. In addition to the motorcycles,

Related News