The Chinese embassy says in a statement that they allowed this for humanitarian reasons.

Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were arrested in what is widely seen as retaliation for Canada's decision to arrest Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on an extradition request from the United States.

Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne called the cases of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor the "foremost" priority for Canada.

Dominic Barton offered that assessment in testimony on Wednesday before the special House of Commons committee studying the fraught relationship between the two countries, which was already tense when he was named to the post last fall.

"We are aware of the diplomatic situation between Canada and China and hope a resolution is found soon," the province said.

Expert warns Canada and the U.K. are in very different situations when it comes to risk from Huawei.

The committee's creation was the result of a Conservative motion passed in December, thanks to support from other opposition parties in the minority Parliament.

Kovrig was the first of two Canadians detained in apparent retaliation for Meng Wanzhou's arrest.

The Department of Justice said in documents that the allegations meet the crucial extradition test of ``double criminality,'' meaning if they had occurred in Canada they would be criminal under Canadian law.

Huawei's chief financial officer is on bail and living in one of her two multimillion-dollar homes in Vancouver.