Recent polling by Research Co. shows that an overwhelming 75% of Canadians do not want Ottawa to approve Huawei’s involvement in Canada’s 5G network.
The latest poll is the record highest level of distrust in the company. In February 2019, only 57% of Canadians were not in favour of their involvement, while by January 2020 the opposition had grown to 66% nationally.
“In four rounds of nationwide polling, most Canadians have never regarded Huawei as a welcome addition to Canada’s 5G network,” said Research Co. President Mario Canseco in a press release.
“Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic in the background and as the court decision on Meng’s extradition was about to be rendered, this view has hardened considerably.”
Canadians were also overwhelmingly against developing closer ties with the People’s Republic of China. According to Research Co. 78% of Canadians were against the idea.
The poll results come on the heels of a landmark decision by the BC Supreme Court to proceed forward with extradition proceedings against Huawei heiress and CFO Meng Wanzhou.
On Wednesday, Associate Chief Justice H. Holmes ruled that Meng’s charges levelled against her by the US for breaking sanctions with Iran did meet the condition of double criminality.
“On the question of law posed, I conclude that, as a matter of law, the double criminality requirement for extradition is capable of being met in this case. The effects of the US sanctions may properly play a role in the double criminality analysis as part of the background or context against which the alleged conduct is examined,” wrote Holmes in her decision.
Prior to the decision, Trudeau announced that his government remains undecided on Huawei’s involvement in Canada’s 5G network as it mulls over the national security implications.
Recently, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson reversed his position on whether or not to allow the company to play a limited role in his own country’s 5G network.
The reversal comes after the British parliament moved forward on a bill that would allow Huawei tech access to non-sensitive parts of the next-generation tech.
“Following the US announcement of additional sanctions against Huawei, the NCSC is looking carefully at any impact they could have to the UK’s networks,” said a spokesperson with Britain’s cybersecurity centre the NCSC.
After the court reached its decision regarding Meng’s charges, Chinese state media lashed out at Canada calling the country a “pathetic clown and a scapegoat.”
