Dear Editor,
Canada’s Conservatives are the party of free trade and free markets. We recognize the importance of the U.S. and Mexican markets for Canadian exporters. That’s why we’ve been clear that we will support the swift passage of the new NAFTA deal.
The Trudeau Liberals have repeatedly accused our party of delay tactics. This is patently false. In fact, the opposite is true. Canada’s Conservatives recently tried to expedite the passage of the new NAFTA deal in the House of Commons, but the Liberals refused.
The Liberals have repeatedly stated that the new NAFTA deal is a better deal for Canada. This is also false. My Conservative colleagues on the Standing Committee on International Trade sent a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Freeland outlining the many shortcomings of the Liberals’ new NAFTA deal, as identified by witnesses who testified before the committee. It’s clear that this deal is worse for the Canadian economy and Canadian businesses.
A recent report by the C.D. Howe Institute found that the new NAFTA deal will reduce Canada’s GDP by $14.2 billion, which amounts to more than $1,000 per family. The report also states that after the implementation of the new NAFTA deal, Canada’s exports to the U.S. will fall by $3.2 billion, while our imports from the U.S. will increase by $8.6 billion. These impacts will be especially hard on Canada’s agriculture and dairy sectors.
While Canada’s Conservatives will continue to be the party of free trade and support the new NAFTA deal – we will also continue to use our strengthened opposition to point out its shortcomings.
Sincerely,
Cathay Wagantall, MP
Yorkton--Melville
