Saudi Arabia has decided to transfer all of its nationals currently receiving medical treatment in Canada out of the North American country, the Health Attaché to the US and Canada has announced. The kingdom “has stopped all treatment programs in Canada and is coordinating for the transfer of all Saudi patients from Canadian hospitals to other hospitals outside Canada according to directives by leadership,” a statement carried by SPA news agency reads. The move comes amid a growing diplomatic spat between Riyadh and Ottawa. Last week, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland publicly called for the immediate release of civil-rights activists detained in the mid-east kingdom, amid a widening clampdown on opposition. In response, the ruling monarchy expelled Canada’s ambassador on Sunday, recalled its ambassador and has frozen new trade dealings with Canada. Riyadh also suspended its educational training programs with the North American country.
