Canada's guiding beacons of freedom, democracy and human rights are often dimmed if not completely darkened when it comes to the issue of dealing with China.

This smothering syndrome occurred again recently when Jim Abbott, the Conservative Member of Parliament from British Columbia's East Kootenays brought forward a private members bill called the Taiwan Affairs Act.

The aim of this law, should it be passed, is to get Ottawa to upgrade its relations with Taiwan, which China deems to be a rebel province.

The bill also proposes that Canada oppose China's use of military force or economic sanctions against Taiwan.

It calls for improved economic, cultural, scientific and legal ties and the welcoming of Taiwanese officials to start visiting Canada.

Beijing immediately denounced the bill and called it a brazen interference into China's domestic issues.

"This action seriously violates the one-China policy that the Canadian government has abided by for a long time. "We are firmly opposed to it," the Chinese government said in a statement.

The reaction from the communist regime was understandable.

The reaction in Canada underlined our hypocrisy showing once again that the guiding principles celebrated unabashedly on Canada Day wilt easily under the might of the Chinese Yuan.

Leading the charge to kill Abbott's bill is Canada's business community which cares little about the threats of dismantling democracy in Taiwan.

"The effect would be these multi-billion dollar, million-dollar deals that are in the works would be harmed by the bill," said Gordon Cherry of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.

Jim Peterson, Canada's International Trade Minister said any move to increase the recognition of Taiwan will lead to a diplomatic chill and cause a freeze of economic activity.

"There is great potential loss and the Chinese have made it very clear to us in every meeting at a high level that a one-China policy is a priority for them," Peterson said on TV.

Since 1961 when Canada made its first wheat sale to China, Ottawa has moved steadily and stealthily to create a special relationship with Beijing.

Today the ruling politicians, after years of keeping their eyes wide shut to the atrocities of China, proudly say the Asian behemoth is Canada's second largest trading partner.

The numbers however give a different meaning to 'second largest'.

Between 1995 and 2003, Canada's exports to China rose 37.4% but during the same period our imports from China quadrupled.

In 1995, Canada's trade deficit with China was barely C$1.2 billion. By 2003, the trade deficit had exploded to nearly C$13.8 billion.

China's Ambassador in Ottawa Liu Shumin said Abbott's Taiwan Affairs Act will mean "the relations of the two countries would not be going forward but backwards."

For Canada that may not be bad thing.