Can Canada be an honest broker on Ukraine?
It was noted in some circles last month that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not invited to participate in talks held on the margins of the G20 meeting focused on resolving the political and military impasse in eastern Ukraine. This meeting included the leaders of the United States, France, Germany, Ukraine, and Russia under the […]
India trade talks heating up, but ex-envoy cautions: ‘we’ve been to the altar before’
Canada and India are getting the ball rolling again on negotiations towards free-trade and investment agreements with India, as the Canadian government considers what to do with a Temporary Foreign Worker Program that the South Asian state wants changed. Canada’s chief negotiators for the trade and investment treaties with India, Don Stephenson and Vernon MacKay, […]
The Great Debates: advisory groups and a new NAFTA
Q: Would a renegotiation of NAFTA be a blow to Canada’s economy or an opportunity to make improvements? Regardless of who becomes the next president of the United States after the Nov. 8 election, the North American Free Trade Agreement, as it currently stands, faces an uncertain future. Neither Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton nor […]
EU, Canada still ‘discussing’ leaked declaration to smooth trade deal’s approval, says Freeland, as critics pile on
Canada’s chief negotiator for a trade deal with Europe is still “discussing” the contents of a declaration intended to address criticisms of the agreement, says Canada’s trade minister, as critics in Europe and Canada slam a leaked draft of the document marked “final.” A draft of the declaration was leaked to the media this week […]
Chinese nickname ‘Little Potato’ Trudeau a compliment
Re: “Politics, potatoes, and T-shirts,” (The Hill Times, Sept. 19, p. 9), Gerry Nicholls’ statement, “Mind you, Freeland was just assuming “Little Potato” is an affectionate nickname, for all we know, it might be Mandarin slang for “At least he has nice hair,” is unlikely to be true. Having even rudimentary knowledge of Chinese culture […]
Ag Minister MacAulay ‘not one bit concerned’ by international trade challenge threat
Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay said he was “not one bit concerned” Thursday about an international lobbying campaign for a legal challenge against a new Canadian dairy industry agreement. “I never was very big on threats in my life,” he said during an appearance before the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee. Mr. MacAulay (Cardigan, P.E.I.) dismissed the push […]
China talks will test ‘progressive’ Liberal trade agenda
Trade talks with China will put the Liberal government’s self-proclaimed “progressive” trade agenda to the test, say an NDP critic and the head of a China-focused research institute. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) took one of his first steps towards reshaping the international trade agenda pieced together by the Harper government last week, agreeing to […]
Canada-EU trade deal expected to be signed next month
Amid a flurry of protests, legal challenges, and compromises, backers of the Canada-Europe trade deal say they expect it will finally be signed at the Canada-European Union Leaders’ Summit at the end of October. But full ratification will be a tougher battle. Three years after leaders of Canada and the European Commission—the EU’s executive body—said […]
Politics this morning: Andrew Scheer to announce leadership bid, Ottawa hosts several high-level summits
Today is Wednesday, Sept. 28 The One Young World Summit kicks off in Ottawa today. The conference will see young leaders from more than 190 countries gather to network, collaborate, share ideas, and problem-solve some of the biggest current global issues. The event kicks off tonight, with keynote addresses from Ottawa Mayor, Jim Watson; former […]
Politics this morning: Trudeau to host Chinese premier, Kenney to resign in front of the House
Today is Thursday, Sept. 22. Here are the 4 political events that should be on your radar today: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will host China’s premier and the State Council, Li Keqiang. There will be an official welcoming this morning at 9 a.m. at the Cartier Square Drill Hall in in Ottawa, and afterwards, the […]
