MP Ma Apologizes for Questioning China Forced Labour Reports

Ottawa Member of Parliament Michael Ma apologized Friday for remarks during a parliamentary committee hearing that appeared to question the credibility of reports on forced labour in China, sparking hours of debate and drawing criticism from opposition members.

The incident occurred Thursday at a House of Commons industry committee meeting, where Ma, who switched from the Conservative Party to the Liberals in December, interrogated witness Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa and former public servant. McCuaig-Johnston testified that Chinese electric vehicles under review contain components linked to forced labour involving Uyghur minorities in Xinjiang, the western region where international reports have documented widespread human rights abuses.

Ma pressed McCuaig-Johnston on her evidence, asking, "Have you witnessed forced labour in Shenzhen? Have you witnessed forced labour? Just a short answer: have you witnessed forced labour in Shenzhen, yes or no?" He followed up by inquiring if her information came from "hearsay." The line of questioning focused on auto manufacturing in the southern city of Shenzhen, but initial media reports, including...