Trudeau’s new normal: the brazen sanity of Chrystia Freeland
One of the funniest moments during CBC’s live coverage of Justin Trudeau’s cabinet swearing-in on Nov. 20 came from veteran political Svengali David Herle. On the news of Chrystia Freeland’s promotion from foreign affairs to deputy prime minister, Herle reminded anchor Vassy Kapelos that Freeland is not known in Ottawa for her leadership ambitions. In […]
Canadian labour backs U.S. Democrats, unions in USMCA impasse, but ratification timing a ‘worry,’ says Canadian Labour Congress
In the midst of ongoing U.S. negotiations over the implementation of the new NAFTA, Canadian labour unions are supporting the efforts of U.S. House Democrats and American labour to strengthen labour enforcement provisions in the trade pact, but a leading Canadian labour voice says the delayed timing is a “worry.” Hassan Yussuff, president of the […]
The ‘lost’ opportunity of the PM’s India trip, and other observations from India’s exiting envoy
India’s high-profile High Commissioner, Vikas Swarup, had an eventful two-and-a-half years in Canada, visiting every province and territory and giving more than 150 talks, during a term that spanned elections in both countries, a scandal-plagued prime ministerial visit, and heightened tensions in the disputed territory of Kashmir. An “opportunity was lost” with Prime Minister Justin […]
Implementation of new NAFTA will be ‘important priority’ for Liberal government as U.S. negotiations progress
With MPs set to return to Ottawa on Dec. 5, progress is being made towards implementation of the new NAFTA south of the border, highlighted by the recent visit to Parliament Hill of the chairman of the important U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. The implementation is viewed as an “important priority” by Foreign Affairs […]
Trudeau needs Freeland at foreign affairs to deal with NAFTA cliffhanger
OTTAWA—The economy always scores fairly high when voters are asked during election campaigns about the issues that matter most. But it’s debatable whether economic concerns really count for much unless the economy is in the doldrums and jobs are scarce. Among voters in the East, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals probably got some […]
Shuffling Freeland would be a ‘mistake,’ says former Liberal justice minister Cotler
A former Liberal justice minister says moving Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland to a different cabinet role would be “a mistake” at a time of increasing authoritarianism around the globe. “[Ms. Freeland] has been so effective, [and] when you have the right person in the right place at the right time, it’s not the time […]
Now that the election is over, stop the digital services tax
Canadians have returned Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party to government, albeit without either a majority of the House of Commons or a plurality of the popular vote. Mr. Trudeau will therefore have to work with other parties in order to get the votes needed for any new initiatives to pass. One of the priorities […]
Ottawa needs to look at other trade options in the Middle East
With the federal elections behind us, it’s time to reexamine how the Liberal government has handled Canada’s business and trade relations with the oil-rich, Gulf Arab states. When Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland publicly denounced Saudi crackdowns on its civil right activists last year, Riyadh reacted furiously. It suspended diplomatic ties, stopped future trade and […]
U.S. lawmaker Richard Neal to travel to Ottawa to talk new NAFTA with Trudeau, Freeland
The Democratic chair of a powerful U.S. House of Representatives committee will travel to Ottawa on Nov. 6 to speak with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland about the implementation process for the new NAFTA. Richard Neal is the chair of the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means, which is […]
From the new NAFTA to winning a seat on the UN Security Council: the key foreign policy priorities in the next Parliament
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government will face both lingering and new foreign policy puzzles when the new cabinet is sworn in on Nov. 20. The Canada-U.S. relationship could come under the spotlight once again as Americans head to the ballot box in just under a year. Implementing the new NAFTA, addressing the rocky relationship […]
