The federal government would be willing to pay $3 million to Michael Spaver and Michael Kovrik for the three years they were imprisoned in China and avoid potential lawsuits.
• Read more: Ottawa-Beijing tensions: “Two Michaels” issue haunts Canada again
• Read more: Two Canadians jailed in China: Michael Spawer blames Michael Kovrik for jailing
At least that's it The Globe and Mail Tuesday, based on two unnamed federal sources.
According to the newspaper, Ottawa is looking to close a deal with the two Michaels as early as 2024. the world Mr. Spaver's attorney, for his part, has indicated he will seek up to $10.5 million for his client.
When he was a Canadian diplomat, Mr. Mr. Kovrik was responsible for the management of Global Affairs Canada's Global Security Reporting Program, a program for which Kovrik worked. Central banks are said to be concerned that Spawer could be sued.
Michael Spawer believes he was arrested by Chinese authorities for releasing the information without the knowledge of Michael Kovrik, who then passed it on to the government.
Recall that the two Canadians were arrested in December 2018 following the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the then CFO of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, in Vancouver at the request of US authorities. While the Canadian government condemned the arbitrary arrests, China accused them of being spies.
Both men were finally freed in September 2021, shortly after the United States dropped their case and, as a result, extradition proceedings against Meng Wanzhou.
