University of Ottawa apologizes after preventing media from filming Chinese ambassador’s speech

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OTTAWA — The University of Ottawa has issued an apology after preventing the media from filming a speech made by the Chinese ambassador in Canada earlier this week.

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“We made the wrong decision at the last moment. We apologize to the media involved. We should have done better to protect the freedom of the press,” said Jacques Frémont, president of the University, in a statement issued on Wednesday.

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The apology comes less than 48 hours after university officials told accredited media they could not film the Chinese Ambassador to Canada, Cong Peiwu, during a speech on campus in which he criticized the Liberal government’s newly released Indo-Pacific Strategy.

The Canadian Press and Radio-Canada were not allowed to set up cameras, whereas a photographer from the Globe and Mail was not allowed in the room. The CTV News crew was also told their camera would not be allowed inside the building and had to stay outside.

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Although the request was seemingly made by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada, the university did not confirm this information directly. A spokesperson said in a statement that a “speaker’s unexpected refusal to allow cameras jeopardizes the event.”

Window blinds were also lowered by university staff in order to hide protests in support of Uyghurs taking place outside the building.

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The National Post asked the Embassy of China in Canada if it directed the university officials to prohibit cameras and hide protests, but did not receive a comment by deadline.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several other prominent politicians have criticized the University of Ottawa for preventing the media from doing its work.

“I don’t know all of the details of the incident, but in my opinion, they made a mistake in banning cameras. In Canada, we allow cameras especially to people who have a public profile. Media must have access (to them),” said Justin Trudeau to reporters in French on Tuesday.

Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said he is sometimes happy to see reporters and sometimes a little less, but added that freedom of the press is non-negotiable in Canada.

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“I think it’s too bad that they have acted of the sort,” said Rodriguez when asked about the University of Ottawa’s actions.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, who has been at odds with the University of Ottawa on the issue of freedom of speech ever since it suspended a professor in 2020 for using the “N-word” in an academic context, said the university’s actions were “shameful.”

“If you’re searching for a place where to defy freedom of speech, freedom of teaching or freedom of the press, go to the University of Ottawa!” said Blanchet.

“If one of my kids said they wanted to go to the University of Ottawa, I would ask them, ‘Do you have a plan B?’”

Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus shifted the blame to the Chinese embassy, which asked for cameras not to be inside the room, and said that the university probably had to make a last-minute decision. “It’s the ambassador’s query that is more problematic,” he said.

The University of Ottawa promised to ensure that “this regrettable situation does not happen again.”