Meanwhile, Canada and China have pressed pause on plans to mark the end of their joint year of tourism due to the growing diplomatic tensions — and federal Tourism Minister Mélanie Joly is no longer heading to Beijing next week. The Canada-China Year of Tourism 2018 was developed as a partnership to promote travel between the two countries. Joly had planned to be in Beijing for the closing ceremony, set for Dec. 17 to 20. On Thursday, the minister still planned to attend, but on Friday, her spokesperson said Canada and China had mutually agreed to postpone the ceremony.
Tourism Minister Mélanie Joly was planning to travel next week to Beijing for the Canada-China Year of Tourism 2018 closing ceremony, but it has been postponed. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)