Sexism rears ugly head in Canadian politics again
OTTAWA—As the Trump campaign has descended to new lows that even the most cynical politicians could not have anticipated, we are having our own mini-dramas here in Canada. Thankfully, no one has been called a “nasty woman,” but perhaps that would have been the better of the options. Donald Trump’s now trademark defensive comment has […]
CETA needs time, ‘good faith,’ say envoys
European leaders need more time and a good-faith approach to finish off the Canada-EU trade agreement, say Quebec’s envoy for the negotiations and other supporters of the deal. Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland (University-Rosedale, Ont.) repeated Monday that it was up to Europe to iron out opposition to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), after […]
The trade conundrum
OTTAWA—On Oct. 18, 2013, reporters in Ottawa were summoned to the Foreign Affairs building at 6 a.m. to get a look at some of the details of the free trade pact with the European Union that Stephen Harper, the prime minister at the time, was announcing to great fanfare in Brussels, where it was by then mid-day. […]
A Friday to remember: Surprise Wallonia defence hurts Canada’s chances of clinching historic CETA victory
Last week, Canada’s International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland was driving Canada’s offense through the EU’s red zone with sights set high on a touchdown to bring the Canada-EU Free Trade Agreement (CETA) home. With the clock winding down in the 4th quarter, Belgium’s province of Wallonia made a defensive move that Canada (and the European […]
“The government recently dispatched its special envoy on the Canada-EU trade agreement to Europe to push the deal. Should it be saved?”
Kate Purchase Liberal strategist “The Government of Canada is committed to reinvigorating our relationships with our top trading partners, including the European Union. We know that stronger trade relationships create good, well-paying jobs for the middle class, and those working hard to join it. “CETA is an excellent agreement for both Canada and the EU, […]
Belgium’s deputy hopes CETA can be resolved without fallout
Patrick Deboeck, having come from a long line of brewers, is the archetypal Belgian. The deputy ambassador of Belgium in Ottawa is the first in his family to break with tradition in pursuit of a different career. The family brewery, which used the Deboeck name, had been around since the 1700s, he said. It ceased […]
While key issues divide other societies, Canada has consensus
MONTREAL—Looking back on the year since voters handed Justin Trudeau a majority mandate, it is impossible to overstate the contrast between post-election Canada and the pre-election United States. Much, of course, has already been said about Trudeau’s knack for connecting with people, his relative youth for a government leader, his enduring popularity at home, and […]
A new era of trade deals is in the offing, as it should be
The Walloons threw a wrench in the Liberal government’s best-laid plans for Canada’s trade deal with Europe last week. And now it might be dead. A signing ceremony, scheduled for next week in Brussels, is in doubt. The legislature in the southern Belgian region of Wallonia is refusing to accept the deal, meaning Belgium as […]
Proposals on foreign workers another blow to Canada’s middle class
EDMONTON—Do we really want to sell our well-paying Canadian jobs to the lowest bidder? Do we actually want to outsource our high-skilled work to countries that don’t respect our standards in safety and training? The long-awaited report by the Commons Human Resources Committee on changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program, released on Monday, […]
As Europe wavers on CETA, Trudeau promises to drop Bulgarian visa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally promised his Bulgarian counterpart that Canada would drop a visa requirement for that country next year, addressing the top concern of a country that was wavering on support for the Canada-European Union trade agreement. Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) initiated an almost hour-long phone call with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, […]
