In Short : It seems you’re interested in the recent news about the Canada-Ukraine trade bill. I can understand how surprising or unexpected political developments can leave people feeling gobsmacked. If you have any specific questions or if there’s anything else I can assist you with, feel free to ask!
In Detail : Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is defending his party’s unanimous rejection of a bill seeking to update the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement over carbon tax wording concerns, a move that has left the federal Liberals “gobsmacked.”
Speaking to reporters on his way in to a caucus meeting on Wednesday morning, Poilievre said while his party is in favour of free trade with Ukraine, he is “against putting a carbon tax into any trade agreement.”
The Liberals though, are framing the move as the Conservatives voting against supporting a country at war in its rebuilding efforts.
On Tuesday, when the legislation—known as Bill C-57, the modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA)—came up for its first vote at second reading, Conservative MPs united in voting against advancing the bill, citing fears it would “impose” a carbon tax on Ukraine.
The legislation still passed into the committee stage by a vote of 205-109(opens in a new tab) with the backing of the Bloc Quebecois, NDP, and Greens.
While the text of the trade deal(opens in a new tab) does include a commitment that both countries would both, bilaterally and internationally “promote carbon pricing and measures to mitigate carbon leakage risks,” the legislation(opens in a new tab) does not include provisions to force a pollution pricing plan.
Rather, Bill C-57 seeks to implement into law the reworked deal—which includes new chapters on inclusive trade, digital trade and the environment—as it was signed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Ukrainian President’s September visit to Ottawa.
The updated version builds on the original CUFTA that was forged by former prime minister Stephen Harper and came into effect in 2017, seeing tariffs eliminated on 86 per cent of Canada’s merchandise exports to Ukraine, according to Global Affairs Canada.
Reacting after the vote to the break in what has typically been all-party support for Ukrainian-related measures in the House of Commons since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, Government House Leader Karina Gould told reporters she was “absolutely gobsmacked,” by the Conservative caucus’ move.
“This is an agreement that demonstrates Canada’s solidarity, our commitment to Ukraine fighting for their freedom, for their sovereignty,” Gould said. “This agreement is about supporting the rebuilding of Ukraine, and every single Conservative member of Parliament voted against it. I have to say, I am in complete shock about this.”
Gould said Ukrainian Canadians should be concerned about what she viewed as the Conservative party showing “their true colours.”
“I assumed, I guess incorrectly, that this agreement would have passed quickly through the House of Commons. We saw that at every opportunity, they obstructed debate. Now, we know why… This is, I think, a blight on the Conservative Party of Canada,” Gould said, suggesting Conservative MPs need to ask themselves “why are they doing what they are doing.”