NDP: Liberals Must Come Clean on NAFTA Priorities

OTTAWA – With NAFTA renegotiations coming as early as August, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and NDP Trade Critic, Tracey Ramsey, sent a letter to the Prime Minister today urging him to come clean to Canadians on his government’s priorities for the renegotiation process.

“The Prime Minister’s deafening silence on his government’s priorities for NAFTA renegotiations is very troubling,” said NDP Leader Tom Mulcair. “The Liberals have had ample time to tell Canadians exactly what they will prioritize, and how they will protect Canadian jobs, in the process.”

With less than two months remaining in the required 90-day notice to Congress, the Liberal government has yet to announce a credible strategy to stand up to the US government, protect Canadian jobs, and protect market access for our many deeply integrated sectors.

“The Prime Minister needs to stand up for Canadian jobs and make it clear that Canadians are looking for a better deal on NAFTA,” added Ramsey. “Canadians are nervous when they hear the strong language coming from the Trump administration and they deserve to know exactly what the Liberal plan is to defend our environment, labour standards and supply management in advance of negotiations.”

*The Letter to the PM can be viewed here: http://www.ndp.ca/sites/default/files/mulcair_-_letter_to_trudeau_letter_-_nafta_-_20170629_-_en.pdf