The countries are also asking for Saudi Arabia to cooperate with a U.N.-led investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at its Istanbul consulate.

Several imprisoned Saudi human rights activists, including women, have been subjected to sexual assault and torture, Amnesty International said.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says the government wants to see an investigation into who might be responsible.

"It was a situation that didn't need to occur ... to sort of yell from the sidelines I don't think is effective," Dennis Horak said in a phone interview.

Around 20 Saudi students are set to make asylum claims in Canada so that they can continue studying and living here, amid a diplomatic spat between the two countries. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government wants to improve its relationship with Saudi Arabia, but will not sacrifice Canada's position on human rights.

It was disappointing to see former Harper government minister John Baird criticize the government's stance against human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.

The future of one of Canada's largest arms deal and whether axing it could chip away at Liberal prospects in 2019 is fast becoming a major question, after Saudi Arabia reacted to criticism of its treatment of female activists by ejecting the Canadian ambassador Sunday night and ordering a freeze on all new trade.