A few months after he helped to secure the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, Dominic Barton is stepping down as the ambassador of Canada to China.
While announcing his decision to step down in a statement, Barton said when he accepted the appointment in 2019, his major task was to secure the detainees’ release and fine-tune Canada’s relationship with China.
He wrote: “Today, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are back in Canada, and the government is better positioned to achieve its other diplomatic priorities with China, he wrote.
“Working to secure Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor’s release has been one of the most significant events in my life and I have been incredibly moved by the bravery and resilience of these two men, as well as their families.”
Kovrig and Spavor, who were detained in China for almost three years in what was largely seen as retaliation for that arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver, came home in September, hours after the extradition case against Wanzhou was dropped.
Barton, who once served as the Chairman of the Finance Minister’s advisory council on economic growth, said helping to secure the release of the two men was the honour of a lifetime.
He wrote: “I believe that the relationship between Canada and China is of critical importance to our future.
“As I leave my role, my successor will be on strong footing to further this relationship, build on our people-to-people relations, trade and investment ties, while continuing to stand firm on human rights and the rule of law and addressing outstanding consular and market access issues that exist.”
While thanking Barton for his work, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote: “Dominic, my friend, thank you for your work and dedication to our country and to the people of Canada,
“Canada is stronger because of your service, and I wish you all the best.”
Barton’s last day in office will be on December 31.
