After recalling its ambassador and students, Saudi Arabia is now ordering Saudi patients receiving treatment in Canadian hospitals to leave the country.

The kingdom has also ordered its central bank and government pension funds to sell all Canadian assets they hold.

During a news conference in Riyadh on Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Canada knew what it had to do if it wanted to end the feud.

The Sunni kingdom's foreign ministry had previously responded to criticism of Canadian diplomacy on Twitter.

“This is not a human rights issue; it is a matter of national security. “These people were in contact with foreign units and enemies,” can also be read on the social network.

“We don’t need mediation; Saudi Arabia does not interfere in Canadian affairs. Canada must therefore do the same. »

The Saudis are angry at Canada's foreign minister for blaming them for the arrests of human rights activists.

Chrystia Freeland's Twitter outing was inspired by the arrest of Raif Badawi's sister. The Saudi blogger has been in prison for six years. His wife and three children have sought refuge in Sherbrooke and are campaigning for his release. Their efforts garnered public support from Canadian politicians.

On Wednesday morning in Matane, where he was passing through, Prime Minister Philippe Couillard expressed concern about the impact of recent developments on Mr Badawi's fate. “For years I have been campaigning in various ways – publicly and not so publicly – to ensure that Mr. Badawi is released. And unfortunately, a side effect of the current tension is that it makes his release less likely,” argued Mr Couillard.

However, Quebec's prime minister said it was “not a bad thing” that Canada was publicly concerned about the state of human rights and freedom of expression.

“We have to hope that things will calm down, that relations will continue and that we can support this country where many people want further progress.” […] in progress,” Mr. Couillard said.

After ordering the expulsion of the Canadian ambassador based in Riyadh on Sunday and freezing trade relations between the two countries, the Sunni kingdom announced on Monday that it would send the approximately 7,000 students receiving a Saudi government scholarship to study in Canada will transfer.

To watch in the video