‘Extraordinary’ Canada-U.S. trade spat brings lobbyists ‘out of the woodwork’
The growing trade war between Canada and the United States prompted almost three-dozen new filings in the federal lobbyist registry over the last two months as Canada plotted its response to U.S.-imposed steel and aluminum tariffs. Even with Canada’s retaliatory tariffs kicking in July 1, lobbyists are predicting the uptick will continue in Ottawa as […]
Supply management is bad for consumers, for Canada, and even for dairy farmers
Say what you will about United States President Donald Trump’s G7 summit attendance earlier this month, he did manage to do one thing: rally a lot of Canadians against him. A lot of what Trump said is nonsense, and Canadians are right to be angry. However, Trump’s targeted attacks of supply management should not deter […]
It’s time Canada re-engage with the UN Industrial Development Organization
It’s true that the world needs more Canada, especially the developing world. Attempts to not only alleviate the worst aspects of poverty, but to also provide a path to prosperity have been somewhat hit and miss. Governments, non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups, and billionaires all have their own programs and philosophies; the results are generally positive […]
Conservative fortunes benefit from Scheer, Bernier on same team
OTTAWA—Last week, Andrew Scheer turfed Maxime Bernier from his shadow cabinet. Bernier, the former shadow minister for innovation, science, and economic development was apparently removed because he broke a promise to caucus concerning the promotion of his book, specifically a section dealing with the need to end supply management. Allegedly, he said he wouldn’t promote […]
In speech before D.C. crowd, Freeland spoke the truth, but were U.S. policymakers listening?
It’s not often that a Canadian foreign affairs minister says anything important. But Chrystia Freeland did Wednesday when she told Americans point blank that their days of global hegemony are numbered and that they would be wise to keep the allies they have. “You may feel today that your size allows you to go mano-a-mano with your […]
Don’t blame supply management on U.S. dairy’s woes
As a childish, bullying, narcissistic, and hugely ill-informed U.S. president insults our own prime minister as “weak and dishonest,” we should not feel pressured to do what he wants–which is to use NAFTA negotiations to dismantle our supply management system for dairy, poultry, and egg producers–to appease him. U.S. President Donald Trump is a dirty […]
What happens if Ontario makes good on plan to scrap cap and trade?
With the election of Doug Ford as Ontario’s next premier, the carbon market is in danger. The Quebec government plans to turn on the charm in order to keep its neighbour in the game. But what will happen if Ontario’s new Conservative government follows through with its intention to withdraw from the cap-and-trade system? Between […]
Politics This Morning: Trudeau to meet dairy lobby; Bibeau, Champagne to talk women empowerment
Good Tuesday morning, After taking a personal day to regroup and process the verbal attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump and his advisers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be back on the Hill. At 9 a.m., he’ll attend a cabinet meeting and will be in Question Period to face the aftermath of Mr. Trump’s loaded tweets. The prime […]
Kinder Morgan deal reminds us we’re still hewers of wood, drawers of water
OTTAWA—I remember well the afternoon in 2010 at what used to be called the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade when our policy team was invited to listen to one of the so-called “geniuses” in the Asia division. He detailed a plan to export unprocessed bitumen to China and Japan for refining. The rationale […]
Dairy farmers call Trudeau’s NBC’s Meet the Press comments on dairy in NAFTA talks ‘deeply troubling’
The country’s largest dairy association has penned a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling comments he made on Sunday to an American network news show suggesting Canada was making concessions on supply management in NAFTA talks “deeply troubling.” Pierre Lampron, president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), wrote: “The government cannot say that they […]
