The TPP was to be a major election coup for Stephen Harper and the Conservatives - voters said no to that. Turns out the Justin Trudeau Liberals might love the TPP as well - despite the damage it could do to Canada's sovereignty - voters won't like that either.
Trudeaus'/Liberals’ full statement
“The Liberal Party of Canada strongly supports free trade, as this is how we open markets to Canadian goods and services, grow Canadian businesses, create good-paying jobs, and provide choice and lower prices to Canadian consumers,” said the Liberals in a statement released within hours of the announcement of the deal. “The Trans-Pacific Partnership stands to remove trade barriers, widely expand free trade for Canada, and increase opportunities for our middle class and those working hard to join it.”
Let's hope Japan has a better read on Canada then we do.....
Opposition's Trudeau wins, raising doubts on TPP- TOMOYUKI KAWAI, Nikkei staff writer
OTTAWA -- Canada's opposition Liberal Party, led by Justin Trudeau, defeated Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative Party in Monday's snap election, ending nine years of Conservative rule.
The shift in power to the center-left party casts uncertainty on whether Canada will ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Trudeau, 43, has been critical of the TPP, a key election issue, calling it an understanding based on backroom negotiations. However, he has also publicly stated that he supports free trade.
As expected, the Conservatives welcomed the TPP deal as another grant achievement for Harper.The “largest free-trade agreement in history, represented by a 12-nation market of nearly 800 million customers.”
“In a global economy, there is no more certain way to secure long-term economic growth and prosperity and to protect and create good, well-paying jobs for Canadians than by expanding markets for job-creating Canadian businesses,” said Harper in a statement.
The 10-5-2015 statement added, “The Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement will protect and create Canadian jobs, and grow every sector of our economy by giving Canadian businesses access to some of the most dynamic markets in the world… Every sector and region of the Canadian economy will benefit from the TPP, including the auto sector, agriculture, and our supply-managed agricultural sectors. With the successful conclusion of TPP, our Conservative Government has increased Canadian free-trade agreements from five to 51 countries.”
No doubt, we expected the Liberals to repeat the oversold mantra about the Liberal Party of Canada strongly supporting free trade… But, considering the secrecy that accompanied the TPP negotiations, and the fact that the Conservative leader indicated that Canada was willing to sacrifice the auto sector and dairy industry, we expected a responsible opposition party to speak for us.
This being an historic election season, we expected the man who is dying to return to 24 Sussex to demand that Harper disclose the finer details of the TPP. That’s because:
•According to the Council of Canadians, the TPP is a “trade deal that goes well beyond trade.”
•According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: “Trans-Pacific Partnership a big win for corporate interests.”
•Huffington Post: “More Than a Dozen Environmental Organizations Warn of Trans-Pacific Partnership Risks.”
•Folks at Press Progress suggest the TPP is “a deal that could kill 1 in 4 Canadian auto jobs.”
•According to The Nation: “The TPP Prioritizes the ‘Rights’ of Corporations Over Workers, the Environment, and Democracy.”
•From Counter Punch: “TPP: Big Pharma’s Big Deal.”
10-7-2015 Liberals Say No Free Vote On Trans-Pacific Partnership
OTTAWA — Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will not allow his MPs a free vote on the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
Asked about it Wednesday morning, Trudeau was cautious with his answer.
"We're a long way from that," he told reporters.
Summary: May turn that a lot more work may be needed to save Canada. Remember: The TPP isn't a 'free trade deal'. It's a multinational corporation Bill of Rights -We can act on Climate Change or we can have the TPP but not both.
Action item: Canadians, Mexicans and Americans can join the an opposition coalition in their countries here: You could have to pay a fine for simply clicking on the wrong link on the internet or worse.
Note: diary updated at 12:25 am 10-20 as more comments came in