Carney's Office Corrects Statement on Human Rights Discussions with Xi

Prime Minister Mark Carney's office has acknowledged an error in a parliamentary document that claimed he did not 'proactively' raise human rights or foreign interference issues during his January meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Privy Council Office initially stated that these topics were not discussed proactively, but Carney's office now asserts that he did address them directly. The correction comes in response to inquiries from Conservative MP Ned Kuruc. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand also raised sensitive issues with her Chinese counterpart. Carney previously indicated that Canada prefers direct conversations over public statements regarding human rights. This incident highlights the ongoing scrutiny of Canada's diplomatic engagements with China, particularly concerning human rights and foreign interference. The correction will be officially tabled at the next opportunity. This report was published on March 23, 2026.

Key Points: • Carney's office admitted to an error regarding discussions on human rights with Xi. • The Privy Council Office initially claimed human rights were not raised proactively. • The correction will be officially submitted in the next parliamentary tabling.