Canada absolutely should not have considered it when deciding to get involved.

Canada, like any civilized nation, should follow the rule of law. If that has consequences for our deals with and nationals living in totalitarian states, so be it. You shouldn't get to be above the law just because a big trading partner wants you to be.

Canada doesn't have a president, but the idea that our Prime Minister, or more importantly, our government respects the rule of law more than China isn't a hard sell at all. As bad as Trump is, the same is true about him (even if arguably only because the system forces it on him), and is certainly true of the American government as a whole.