Condemning Canadian Resource Companies From Operating Business Projects in Xinjiang
January 20th 2021 - Justice For All Canada is expressing serious concern over new reports revealing the existence of Canadian resource companies operating in China's Xinjiang district. Under foreign documents obtained by The Globe and Mail, these publicly-traded Canadian resource companies are reportedly conducting hundred-million-dollar investment activities in China's Western region. Among these corporate entities operating in Xinjiang include energy corporation Canadian Solar Inc. and mining companies GobiMin Inc. and Dynasty Gold Corp.
"Ironically, we've learned about this shocking development the same week that the Federal Government introduced an advisory notice prohibiting Canadian companies from importing goods linked to forced labour," said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
According to the report, Canadian Solar operates a solar farm near Tumxuk, a region located 1,200 kilometres southwest of Ürümqi (Xinjiang's capital city). However, the Tumxuk region is also home to a vocational training centre used to teach Uighur Muslims "moral and practical" lessons in "prohibition education" and "religious policy."
Uighurs, an ethnic East Turkestan community, have been victims of arbitrary mass detention, disturbing population control measures and mass surveillance using advanced technology.
"The Government should apply import regulations equally across all Canadian companies benefiting directly or indirectly from forced labour chains, including entities, who are already operating in Xinjiang," Ghayyur added.
The report further indicates more Canadian resource firms operating in close proximity to Uighur detention centres, which are used for the "re-education" and political indoctrination of Uighur Muslim minorities.
Justice For All Canada strongly maintains its stance for Canada to follow the United States and the United Kingdom's footsteps in introducing legislation against corporations supporting China's employment of forced labour.
"The Globe and Mail's bombshell findings highlight Canada's undeniable complicity in facilitating forced labour schemes tainted by minimal wages, abuse and modern-day slavery," expressed Ghayyur. "We urge the Federal Government to immediately hold these Canadian resource companies accountable under the Customs Tariff Act, which prohibits importing goods produced by compulsory labour programs."
Justice For All Canada expects the Federal Government to stand by its business advisory notice by taking every step possible to review and halt on-the-ground business activities conducted by all Canadian resource firms operating in Xinjiang. Through their involvement in multi-million dollar projects, these Canadian-led business activities have shamefully positioned Canada as "one of the top five foreign investors in Xinjiang."
"Ironically, we've learned about this shocking development the same week that the Federal Government introduced an advisory notice prohibiting Canadian companies from importing goods linked to forced labour," said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
According to the report, Canadian Solar operates a solar farm near Tumxuk, a region located 1,200 kilometres southwest of Ürümqi (Xinjiang's capital city). However, the Tumxuk region is also home to a vocational training centre used to teach Uighur Muslims "moral and practical" lessons in "prohibition education" and "religious policy."
Uighurs, an ethnic East Turkestan community, have been victims of arbitrary mass detention, disturbing population control measures and mass surveillance using advanced technology.
"The Government should apply import regulations equally across all Canadian companies benefiting directly or indirectly from forced labour chains, including entities, who are already operating in Xinjiang," Ghayyur added.
The report further indicates more Canadian resource firms operating in close proximity to Uighur detention centres, which are used for the "re-education" and political indoctrination of Uighur Muslim minorities.
Justice For All Canada strongly maintains its stance for Canada to follow the United States and the United Kingdom's footsteps in introducing legislation against corporations supporting China's employment of forced labour.
"The Globe and Mail's bombshell findings highlight Canada's undeniable complicity in facilitating forced labour schemes tainted by minimal wages, abuse and modern-day slavery," expressed Ghayyur. "We urge the Federal Government to immediately hold these Canadian resource companies accountable under the Customs Tariff Act, which prohibits importing goods produced by compulsory labour programs."
Justice For All Canada expects the Federal Government to stand by its business advisory notice by taking every step possible to review and halt on-the-ground business activities conducted by all Canadian resource firms operating in Xinjiang. Through their involvement in multi-million dollar projects, these Canadian-led business activities have shamefully positioned Canada as "one of the top five foreign investors in Xinjiang."