Canada's Foreign Ministry said officials led by Ambassador Dominic Barton were given "on-site virtual consular access" to Kovrig on Thursday, but could not give further details.

Canadians Julia and Kevin Garratt, who spent time detained in China, hope the state provides Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor the same holiday "kindness" they once received.

Germany's UN ambassador appealed for China to release Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor this Christmas at his final meeting of the UN Security Council.

'There comes a point where governments should know when to walk away.'

Francois-Philippe Champagne is shooting back at China's criticism of Canada's efforts to build an international alliance to free Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was arrested in December 2018. China promptly seized Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor days later and has linked their fates repeatedly since.

Meng's Dec. 1, 2018 arrest at Vancouver's airport was followed by China's seizing of two Canadians nine days later and charging them with espionage-related offences.

As long as China holds Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, Roy Green says Canada must counter China's 'hostage diplomacy.'

The federal government is facing criticism after a report that senior civil servants opposed a military plan to stop training Chinese soldiers.

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are being held on suspicion of national security crimes but neither it nor Canada has released specifics about their cases.