Why Canada should not be in a hurry to re-embrace Saudi Arabia

There is a lot of money to be made by having a robust relationship with Saudi Arabia, particularly in the defence sector. But what is more important: trade or the values Canada stands for?

I fail to see why so many states are still fawning over Saudi Arabia, and especially over the king-in-waiting and international star Muhammad bin Salman, writes Phil Gurski. Conservative MP Erin O’Toole has said that a government led by Andrew Scheer will try to 'win some trust' with the Saudis by focusing on improving business links. Mr. O’Toole acknowledges that for some Canadians re-establishing ties with Saudi Arabia will be a 'tough sell.' Ya think?Photograph courtesy of the Kremlin

Opinion

BY PHIL GURSKI

August 12, 2019

OTTAWA—I never worked in foreign affairs or for Foreign Affairs (or Global Affairs Canada, as it is now known, having once been designated External Affairs and many other names), but I know a little about the subject. After all, you cannot work in intelligence for three decades without picking up ...

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