We’re still talking NAFTA? Of course, we’re still talking NAFTA, as negotiations actually get underway today, so that’s exciting. If you need any more background (on top of what’s been said for the past several days) here’s a look at why Chrystia Freeland’s list of demands – especially around local procurement and labour mobility – might be a tough sell in the States, while the proposed chapters on gender and Indigenous issues are likely to be seen as simply expressions of the Trudeau government’s values. And while there aren’t any expectations that these negotiations will be easy, given that Trump is an Uncertainty Engine, trade experts are pointing out that Canada has more leverage than we think we do.
Meanwhile, Paul Wells had plenty to say about the past couple of days:
1. Some stuff lines up perfectly with Trump's rust-belt populism, such as "labour chapter." Some might line up in surprising ways, eg gender
— Paul Wells (@InklessPW) August 15, 2017
3. So Canada could make headway on a lot of files.
It won't win everything. Why expect it would? But if so, loading up agenda makes sense.
— Paul Wells (@InklessPW) August 15, 2017
5. Meanwhile, we could do without a lot of handwringing over how unrealistic the Trudeau/Freeland wish list is. Trump's is realistic?
— Paul Wells (@InklessPW) August 15, 2017
… Trump knew Trudeau had had good meetings with Obama. Wanted to know how Trudeau compared the two. Which is needy, but anyway.
— Paul Wells (@InklessPW) August 15, 2017
"….he was never able to get done, which is to fix that softwood lumber dispute."
Given the psychology of his interlocutor, a good play.
— Paul Wells (@InklessPW) August 15, 2017
This particular observation strikes me as so utterly unsurprising. (Seriously, MPs – you can do better):
…and in many years of watching MPs waste opportunities, I've almost never seen MPs so completely waste an opportunity to learn from a pro.
— Paul Wells (@InklessPW) August 15, 2017
He dropped about six hints that he was in a chatty mood, which (except for the NDP critic @traceyram) nobody took him up on
— Paul Wells (@InklessPW) August 15, 2017
And one more, because seriously:
Enjoying reading the trade negotiation punditry that advocates making all your concessions up front. BTW, if ever selling anything, call me.
— Kevin Milligan (@kevinmilligan) August 15, 2017
Good reads:
- Justin Trudeau announced that Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will visit Canada this weekend, and they will both march in the Montreal Pride parade.
- Canadian consulates in the US are reaching out to would-be migrants planning to cross the border in order to correct some of their ideas about refugee stauts here.
- Jim Carr talked up the new Indigenous monitoring panel for TransMountain, while dropping hints about coming legislation about environmental assessments.
- Now farmers are complaining about tax incorporation changes. I’m still dubious and await Kevin Milligan to weigh in.
- It’s political fundraising data time, and this breaks down some of the impact on harder-to-trace smaller donations.
- A few more Conservatives are starting to distance themselves from Rebel Media.
- Kady O’Malley rates the NDP leadership candidates’ websites.
- Here’s a long read about how one doctor became a convert to medical assistance in dying.
- Susan Delacourt writes about the exodus from Rebel Media, along with the disavowals of those who have appeared on it.
- Chris Selley looks at the rapidly changing attitudes to harm reduction and safe injection sites in the era of the opioid crisis.
- My column looks at the resurgence of nostalgia for Triple-E Senate reform, and why it was always a bad idea.
Odds and ends:
The Senate Conservatives have a new chief of staff.