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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

Project Confederation: While we're removing tariffs...

IMAGE CREDIT:  The Western Producer 

There's been some new developments on the international trade front.

Unfortunately, none of it will help canola farmers.

Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced that Canada will remove retaliatory tariffs on US goods covered by the Canada-US-Mexico Free Trade Agreement - except for steel, aluminum, and autos.

(These are industries concentrated in Eastern Canada, and Ottawa’s decision makes it clear whose interests are being prioritized in federal trade policy.)

Meanwhile, Western Canadian canola farmers are still dealing with the consequences of China’s retaliatory tariffs - tariffs that exist only because Ottawa chose to impose heavy duties on Chinese electric vehicles.

These punitive measures are directly impacting farmers who produce billions of dollars worth of canola annually, support hundreds of thousands of jobs, and supply essential food products to both Canadians and international trading partners.

Yet despite their contributions to the national economy, their needs are being ignored while attention and protection flow to industries in the East.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew called out the imbalance. Kinew suggested that "if we're in the business of removing tariffs" then we should remove tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles so that China would drop its duties on canola.

He's right.

Why should Canada-US-Mexico Free Trade Agreement continue to bear the costs of Ottawa’s political trade decisions while Eastern industries receive preferential treatment?

If Ottawa is serious about fair trade, it needs to act in a way that protects farmers - not just politically favoured industries in Ontario and Quebec.

Western producers built an industry that is the backbone of our agricultural sector, yet the federal government continues to ignore their needs in favour of propping up industries in the vote-rich East.

Our farmers deserve better.

They deserve real protection and access to international markets without being penalized for decisions made hundreds of kilometers away.

 

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