TORONTO -- Dominic Barton is stepping down as Canadaâs ambassador to China at the end of the month, according to a statement from the Prime Ministerâs Office released Monday.
âWith much gratitude and respect, I have accepted Ambassador Bartonâs decision to leave his post in Beijing at the end of the year,â the statement reads.
Barton has served as ambassador to China for the past two years, during a period Trudeauâs statement described as âa time when relations between our two countries faced difficult challenges.â
The statement also thanked Barton for his involvement in securing the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. The two men were detained in China for nearly three years in a move widely seen as retaliation by China for the 2018 arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver.
âHe worked tirelessly on this important task,â the statement said. âThanks for Dominicâs leadership and skilled diplomatic approach, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are back at home with their families.â
The statement did not address who would be stepping in to the role after Bartonâs departure.
In a personal statement released Monday, Barton said he will step down effective Dec. 31, 2021, and said the return of the two Michaels was the highlight of his tenure as ambassador between the two nations.
âWorking to secure Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavorâs 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,â Bartonâs statement said. âIt was the honour of a lifetime to help with their release and I am extremely proud of the many Canadian public servants who helped bring them home.â
Barton said in his statement that he believes the relationship between Canada and China is âof critical importance to our future
In response to Bartonâs departure, Conservative Leader Erin OâToole said at a media briefing Monday morning that the Trudeau government has âmishandled the relationship with Chinaâ since the prime minister came to power.
âIâd like to thank Mr. Barton for his service, we had no ambassador for almost a year in between Mr. Barton and Mr. McCallum who had to resign because of failures to be transparent with respect to the situation with the two Michaels,â OâToole said, adding that he believes most Canadians regard the relationship between China and Canada as âa mess.â
OâToole urged a principle-based approach to the relationship with China where âeconomic concerns will not dominate concerns over human rights,â citing the crackdown in Hong Kong, the alleged persecution of Uyghurs and heightened tensions over Taiwan.
âI hope Mr. Trudeau puts a professional, experienced diplomat in that post, not a friend of the Liberal Party,â OâToole said.