Canadian Decision to Ban Huawei 5G or Not is “Beyond Weeks” Away Says Ottawa

The Liberal government is currently conducting a security review of 5G networks, which will also decide whether Huawei 5G networking equipment should be banned, due to alleged espionage concerns.

While the federal government has been mum on a specific timeline of the report’s release, today Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters the most specific details of when the security review will be complete.

According to Reuters, Goodale said Canada’s decision to ban Huawei 5G or no is “some ways off into the future yet.”

The minister said the timing is “some way off into the future yet … it’s certainly beyond weeks.”

Diplomatic relations between Canada and China have soured ever since Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou—the daughter of the company’s founder—was arrested in Vancouver last month, at the request of U.S. authorities. China detained two Canadian men in retaliation for the arrest.

This morning Meng attended her bail hearing in Vancouver, BC. The judge agreed to Meng’s request to delay her next scheduled court appearance to March 6, 2019.



Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it is seeking extradition of Meng, charging her and Huawei for fraud, for allegedly violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. The U.S. said it was “deeply grateful to the government of Canada” for following the rule of law.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fired Canada’s ambassador to China on Saturday, after John McCallum spoke publicly twice favouring Meng’s case to fight extradition.

Telus, which is working with Huawei for 5G, recently said the Chinese company is not a security risk due to security checks, while noting it would be a “lost opportunity” if the company were banned.

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