More Canadians disappointed with USMCA the NAFTA replacement than are pleased

More Canadians say they are disappointed with the USMCA, the US, Mexico, Canada Agreement that replaces NAFTA than pleased with the new agreement.

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Poll taken by Angus Reid

Just three weeks after the new NAFTA deal renamed the USMCA who rejected to the old name, Canadians are split on their feelings about the pact. The latest poll by Angus Reid shows that more Canadians are disappointed by the deal than pleased.

The attitudes are split along party lines with supporters of the ruling Liberal party having a more favorable view. Those supporting the Liberals are twice as likely to have a favorable view of the agreement as are either the right-leaning Conservative party supporters or those of the leftist New Democratic Party.

Half of Canadians think that Canada's negotiating team were too soft in dealing with their US counterparts, and they gave up too much to get a deal. Just over a third, 35 percent, felt that the agreement reached was better than nothing. About the same number, 34 percent, felt it would be worse.

Canadian view of US becoming more negative

The survey found that Canadians are feeling more negative about the US than in almost 40 years. 49 percent of Canadians say they have a very favorable or mostly favorable view of the US. That's a big drop from their views in June 2016 when 62 percent had a favorable view and the lowest since 1980. Previously, 59 per cent represented the low-mark, during the turmoil of the Bush administration’s war in Iraq.

Quebec province least favorable towards the new deal

Regionally, residents of Quebec had the least favorable view of the USMCA, no doubt because the Liberals sold out on their promise not to touch the Canadian supply managed markets for dairy poultry, and eggs. The US has now increased access to Canadian markets. While many of the largest dairy farms are in Quebec producers in other provinces as well were angry that Trudeau broke his promise not to touch the area.

Trump viewed negatively

After the USMCA was signed, half of Canadians view of Trump and Co. was negative, while only 11 percent have a very positive view. 64 percent of Canadians viewed the Trump administration negatively. In contrast to the declining view of the US, the favorable view of Mexico by Canadians is up 7 percent with almost 6 in 10 Canadians saying they have a favorable view of Mexico.

USMCA still a deal to advance global corporate interests

A recent Digital Journal article points out that in spite of some significant improvements compared to the original NAFTA the entire deal is still in the interests of global corporations and there are even new negative features including more access to Canadian markets where there is supply management.

An article in Rabble also points out a new negative feature: "In Article 32.10 Canada agreed not to negotiate commercial agreements with non-market countries. That would be China. Should Canada decide to sign a trade agreement with China, the non-market country, it would be booted out of USMCA. For trade expert Peter Clark this amounts to Canada being treated as a vassal state by the U.S". This provision is discussed on the appended video.

Crown corporations have been one of the key instruments in economic development in Canada. Now they are defined as State-Owned Enterprises. Their activities must be restricted to non-competition with private sector companies. There are even penalties spelled out for non-compliance. This is just one of many provisions that protect private corporations and their profits.

The new deal also provides a two year extension to patents on biologic drugs. This will prevent lower cost generic drugs from entering the market. This will make it difficult for Liberals to keep their promise of a national pharmacare program as it will now be said to be too expensive.

Previously published in Digital Journal

Prime Minister Trudeau does not attend Castro's funeral

(November 28)  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will not be attending the funeral next Sunday of former Cuban president Fidel Castro the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has confirmed. The PMO said only that his schedule did not permit it.

 

Castro seized power in 1959 and ruled until 2006 when he turned the leadership over to his brother Raul. He died just last week at the age of 90 but had been in poor health for some time. The Governor General David Johnson will attend a commemoration on Tuesday in Havana but there is no word on who, if anyone, will represent Canada at the funeral.

Trudeau had issued a statement that included positive aspects of Castro's rule. The entire statement can be found on the Prime Minister's website. Trudeau had several positive things to say about Castro for example that he improved education and health care in Cuba. He noted as well his father's friendship with Castro. Castro attended Pierre Trudeau's funeral in Montreal as shown in the appended video with the Jimmy Carter. Castro was an honorary pallbearer at Pierre Trudeau's funeral in 2000.

Maxime Bernier, a Conservative party leadership candidate, called on Trudeau not to attend the funeral saying: "Fidel Castro was a brutal dictator who killed and imprisoned countless Cubans while keeping the rest of the country impoverished due to his reckless communist ideology." Of course this is a proper right wing reaction but many of the left in the west are also strongly anti-communist, so while not joining in the strong denunciation of many conservatives, leftists must not say anything that might be interpreted as pro-communist. NDP leader Tom Mulcair tweeted: "Upon the passing of Fidel Castro let us think of the lives impacted by his actions and be hopeful for the future of the Cuban people." Trudeau's dad was not so careful about political sensibilities and never attempted to hide or downplay his friendship with Castro or his support for the country against the wishes of the United States.

In a response to the criticism of his statement Justin Trudeau said that he believed that Castro was a dictator. This is a must term when mentioning Castro. Note the contrast when King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia died: "Mr Obama paid tribute to Abdullah as a leader who "was always candid and had the courage of his convictions". UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised Abdullah's work 'to promote dialogue among the world's faiths'." Of course the king was also a dictator and had a dismal record on human rights and the rights of women. But then he had oil and was friendly with western imperialist countries.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale defended Mr. Trudeau and said the Prime Minister reflected on “the unique relationship that Castro had with Canada," and claimed that the relationship actually reduced geopolitical tensions. Goodale said: “Mr. Trudeau has stood up and spoken vigorously about human rights wherever he has gone in the world, whether that’s China or Africa or indeed, in Cuba a couple of weeks ago. Mr. Trudeau’s record on human rights and civil liberties is very strong and very clear. And he’s regarded around the world as an eloquent spokesman in that regard.” Of course he also ships armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia.

The Mexican president Pena Nieto will attend the funeral. Although Putin will not attend, his close ally, the speaker of the State Duma will lead the Russian delegation. Neither Obama nor the U.K. PM Theresa May will attend. Maxime Bernier claimed that attending the funeral could jeopardize relations with the United States. To that his father would have replied "fuddle duddle!" Surely if Nieto can attend, Trudeau can too.

Trudeau defines Canada?

This is excerpted from the CBC.
As I recall Alberta was not particularly in love with Trudeau! When Trudeau was in power PetroCan was owned by the Canadian government. Now of course with almost everything else it is owned by the people who own the Canadian government. Its not us!


The Ipsos-Reid survey, on behalf of the Dominion Institute and the federal Department of Citizenship and Immigration, asked Canadians what best defines their country.
After tallying the results, Trudeau was revealed as the person who most defines Canada. Niagara Falls was the defining place, Canada Day the defining event, Canadarm the defining accomplishment and the maple leaf was the defining symbol.