Trudeau should keep his head down, stay off Trump’s radar
LONDON, U.K.—Like Mexico, Canada is in the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Donald Trump has described as “the worst trade deal…ever signed in this country.” Unlike Mexico, Canada thinks that Trump is not planning to hurt it. But no good deed goes unpunished, so Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should be very careful. Canadians felt […]
Cashing in on the Trump effect
Is there a Canadian opportunity amidst the flurry of executive orders around trade, commerce, and immigration that are coming from President Trump? Being a stable and able democracy to America’s north not currently subject to the ire of the new president might be of huge strategic advantage to us. First and foremost, on trade there […]
Health most lobbied topic for third straight month, environment and energy fell in rankings
Health was the most-lobbied subject for the third month in a row in December, according to the federal lobbyists registry, while topics such as environment and energy fell in their relative ranking among other topics. The five topics cited most often in communication reports filed for the last month of 2016 were health with 176 […]
Opioid bill, CETA, budget at top of House agenda as MPs return
The ongoing opioid crisis in Canada and job losses have put two bills—Bill C-37, to address safe injection sites and Bill C-30 implementing CETA—as well as the upcoming budget as top priorities when the House returns Monday after a six-week break from Ottawa. “Lots of people wonder if Parliament cares,” NDP House leader Murray Rankin (Victoria, B.C.) told […]
Trudeau government taking right approach with Trump
Whatever misgivings you might have about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government’s performance, he should be given credit for taking a non-partisan, unemotional approach to Donald Trump becoming president of the United States. His judgment on the Aga Khan trip and his flip-flopping on whether the oilsands are forever have not been Mr. Trudeau’s […]
Why Trump could help Canada get a better trade deal with China
Canada could get a better trade deal with China, thanks to United States President Donald Trump’s aggressive stance on North American trade, says a U.S.-China policy expert who was in Ottawa last week to brief Canadian foreign ministry officials. China’s leadership will likely see an opportunity to “drive a wedge” between the United States and […]
Trump’s protectionism drives home the need for fresh economic thinking from Ottawa
OTTAWA—As far back as the 1970s, the Canadian government was offering business people a wide variety of financial supports, advice, and on-the-ground assistance in Europe and elsewhere in hopes of expanding exports outside the United States. But the obvious benefits of selling to the huge U.S. market just across the border, with its similar business […]
On military interventions, West Africa has the rest of the world beat
London, U.K.—As military interventions go, it was practically flawless.Last month Gambia’s long-ruling dictator, president Yahya Jammeh, lost an election that turned out to be a little freer than he had planned. After first conceding defeat and even phoning up the victor, property developer Adama Barrow, to congratulate him, Jammeh changed his mind and decided to […]
Canada’s economic growth plan in trouble with Trump
TORONTO—Donald Trump really meant it. It’s America First. He wants a new NAFTA or no NAFTA at all. And at the end of the day, Canada and Mexico will be expected to roll over and do what Trump wants, which is a new NAFTA that’s less beneficial for Canada and Mexico, and more beneficial for […]
Trump shows globalization’s logic can be challenged
Give Donald Trump credit for this. The United States president-elect might not be everybody’s favourite person, but he is showing that governments can successfully challenge the logic of globalization. In particular, he has demonstrated some of the world’s biggest companies can be strong-armed into repatriating high-wage manufacturing jobs. Since November, when Trump won the U.S. […]
