Liberals must push for better deal on TPP

LOUISEVILLE — Amidst reports that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has privately told world leaders he will ensure passage of the Trans Pacific Partnership deal, Liberal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland now says she won’t honour the dairy compensation package revealed during the election.

“The Liberals say they won’t be bound by Harper’s dairy compensation deal but they will be bound by Harper’s job killing TPP deal,” said NDP Agriculture Critic Ruth Ellen Brosseau (Berthier-Maskinongé). “It seems the Liberals are happy to chip away at supply management but won’t commit to compensating farmers hurt by Stephen Harper’s bad deal.”

Harper announced a 15-year, $4.3 billion package during the federal campaign to compensate supply managed sectors hurt by the TPP. Quebec dairy farmers had already said it would be inadequate to cover expected losses but now the whole package may be in jeopardy.

“In opposition, the Liberals used to claim they would defend supply management,” said Brosseau. “But now it seems they’d rather sell out farmers than push for a better deal on TPP.”