As foreign ministers from some of the world’s leading democracies met in Niagara-on-the-Lake this week, local officials said the gathering gave Canada an important chance to press for the release of jailed publisher Jimmy Lai.
The G7 — a coalition of major democratic nations including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Japan — meets throughout the year, along with the European Union and other invited partners, to discuss global economic issues, security concerns and other international challenges.
During the press conference for Canada, The Lake Report asked the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, whether foreign ministers will be pressing China about Hong Kong’s national security law and pushing for the release of Jimmy Lai in a unified voice.
She said at the meetings, ministers sought a unified position on core issues “from Sudan to Haiti to the Middle East to Ukraine,” calling them “the main topics” of discussion — and the G7 joint statement made no mention of Hong Kong’s national security law or Lai’s release.
Anand did not clarify whether Canada would press its G7 partners on the law or Lai’s release in the future, but said she would continue raising the issue on her own.
“I have raised this case at every opportunity,” she said.
“Media freedom remains an important part of the democratic process. It’s essential to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
The Lake Report also asked whether any representatives from her team were present to support the rally for him held in NOTL on Wednesday.
“Our schedule is extremely compressed,” she said. “So, to my knowledge, the ministers who are invited to this meeting were in the room for the sessions that we have held.”
Discussions spanned over the two days, Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, and carried global weight — but the event also marked a proud moment locally.
Ashley Brown, director of brand and creative strategy at White Oaks Resort and Spa, which hosted the foreign ministers, said the team was “deeply honoured” to welcome such a prestigious event to NOTL.
“In preparation, our team worked closely with Global Affairs Canada through a series of meetings to ensure every requirement for the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting was fully understood and met,” she said.
Brown said open communication with Global Affairs Canada allowed the resort to plan and carry out the event smoothly “from start to finish.”
“We are immensely proud of our team,” she said, adding that “their hard work, professionalism and dedication” made the event a success.
The timing of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting was “very fruitful,” said NOTL Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa in an interview.
These meetings make way for productive international conversations about such issues, said Zalepa. If not talked about directly, “it may come up through other conversations.”
Tony Baldinelli, Conservative MP for Niagara Falls–Niagara-on-the-Lake, agreed. Before the event, he said these meetings offered “a perfect opportunity” to highlight Lai’s case.
“It’s my hope that they will champion the cause,” he added.
