Prime Minister Mark Carney shakes hands with Michael Ma, member of Parliament for Markham-Unionville, who crossed the floor from the Conservatives to the Liberals hours earlier, as he brings him on stage at the Liberal caucus holiday party in Ottawa, on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Carney isn’t saying whether Michael Ma faces fallout for China remarks

By Nick Murray, The Canadian Press Mar 30, 2026 | 10:42 AM

Prime Minister Mark Carney isn’t saying whether Liberal MP Michael Ma will face consequences for his recent comments about forced labour in China.

In Toronto this morning, where he was making a housing announcement alongside Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Carney faced questions for the first time about Ma’s remarks last week.

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During a parliamentary committee hearing on Thursday, Ma appeared to cast doubt on reports of forced labour in China — though he later apologized and said he had been asking about forced labour in Shenzen, not Xinjiang, where the Chinese government has been accused of widespread abuses against Uyghurs.

Asked today if he believes there is forced labour in China, Carney said there is child and forced labour all over the world but acknowledged there are parts of China which are higher-risk.

Carney said Ma remains a member of the Liberal caucus but would not say if he will face consequences or if will still co-host a Liberal fundraising event tonight in Markham, Ont., at which Carney is set to speak.

Federal Finance Minister François Philippe-Champagne is scheduled to travel to China this week and Carney says supply chain integrity will be a part of his discussions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2026.