Michael Spavor reaches settlement with federal government over detention in China

Michael Spavor has reached a settlement with the Canadian government over his detention in China.

Citing two sources with knowledge of the case, Radio-Canada reports that the total settlement is for $7 million.

John Philips, Spavor's lawyer, told CBC News that the matter between his client and the government "has been resolved" but would not offer any further comment.

Spavor, a consultant, was one of two Canadians detained by Chinese officials in December 2018 — not long after Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada on behalf of U.S. authorities.

Spavor, along with diplomat Michael Kovrig, spent more than 1,000 days in prison before being released in September 2021.

The Globe and Mail reported in November that Spavor was threatening to sue the government and Kovrig. That report suggested Spavor was alleging he was detained because he unwittingly provided information on North Korea to Kovrig, who then gave the information to Canadian intelligence officials.

Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor stand as they are recognized before President Joe Biden speaks to the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa on Friday, March 24, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/Pool/The Associated Press)

In statements issued to CBC news in November, both the government and Kovrig maintained that the detentions were arbitrary.

Global Affairs Canada told CBC News Wednesday that it wouldn't comment on the Spavor case due to privacy concerns.

"China's arbitrary detention of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig was unjust and unacceptable," a departmental spokesperson said in a statement.

"The Government of Canada is committed to supporting them in their efforts to turn to a new chapter in their lives based on their individual circumstances and impacts, and in acknowledgement of their ordeal and the suffering caused by their arbitrary detention by China."