Prime Minister Harper's Amateurish Approach to China Costs Canadian Jobs

China is the fourth largest economy in the world, boasting unprecedented economic growth and could potentially provide tremendous trade and investment opportunities for Canada. This is particularly true for Canada's tourism sector.

Chinese tourists are among the biggest spenders in the world, taking up to 120 million foreign vacations every year for the next seven years. Canada's tourism industry had hoped to receive up to 700,000 tourists from China annually - each spending an average of $1,800 on hotels and shopping in Canada. But in order to tap into the booming Chinese market and promote Canada as a vacation destination, Canada must first be granted Approved Destination Status (ADS).

Despite reaching an agreement in principle with the previous Liberal Government in January 2005, negotiations to grant ADS to Canada have broken down under the Harper Conservative government because of its mismanagement of Canada-China relations.

Mike Murphy, executive vice-president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, recently made his organization's concerns very clear: "Our message to our own government is to get this moving. Think about the difficulties the tourism sector is already having for a number of reasons."

These were not the first calls for action by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, but unfortunately industry concerns have been ignored by the Harper government, resulting in Chinese tourists flocking to ADS countries such as Australia instead.

From the damaging allegations about industrial espionage and the snubbing of China's ambassador to Canada by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to undiplomatic language from the Prime Minister and his ministers regarding China, the actions of Prime Minister Harper and his Conservative government are depriving the Canadian business community of trade and investment opportunities with China.

Unlike the Conservatives, the Liberal Party values Canada's relationship with China and recognizes the tremendous potential the country can bring to Canada's tourism industry.

That is why a new Liberal government would move immediately to repair Canada's strained diplomatic relationship with China, build on the Approved Destination Status agreement in principle and secure a full agreement as quickly as possible.

It is time for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to stop depriving the Canadian business community of trade and investment opportunities with China so that both our countries can benefit and prosper.

As former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said so eloquently: "We must engage China, not insult them."