FIFA World Cup: ‘Disappointing’ Ottawa sent delegates to Qatar, LGBTQ2 group says

International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan and MP Stephen Ellis are in the Arab nation until Wednesday for the FIFA World Cup.

Ottawa’s decision to send government officials to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup is “very disappointing” as human rights issues continue to plague the soccer tournament, an LGBTQ2 advocacy group says.

International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan and MP Stephen Ellis are in the Arab nation until Wednesday for the event, which will feature the Canadian men’s team for the first time in 36 years.

There was debate over whether delegates from Ottawa should attend the World Cup, given the reported human rights abuses in the nation and Canada’s decision to diplomatically boycott the 2022 Beijing Olympics over China’s human rights record.

The move to go is “short-sighted,” but there’s an opportunity for the government to take a strong stance in Qatar, said Helen Kennedy, executive director at Egale, a Canadian advocacy group for LGBTQ2 people and issues.

“It’s very disappointing, and I think that it’s short-sighted. I certainly would like to see our Canadian government speak out a lot stronger on the human rights violations occurring in that country, and especially now that the world is watching Qatar,” she told Global News.

“What better opportunity and time to let the world know that we’re not in line with any of their human rights violations, specifically around LGBTI folks.”

On Sunday, Ottawa announced it would be sending Sajjan and Ellis to Qatar for three days to represent the Canadian government. The news came after Heritage Canada told Global News last month that Ottawa had “no plan” then to send a dignitary, and after Liberal MPs didn’t give direct answers on the issue at the House of Commons last week.

Sajjan and Ellis will be cheering on the men’s team, and will also participate in “a trilateral sports diplomacy event” with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard, Ottawa said. Sajjan will also meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, to discuss humanitarian assistance and international development.