Liberals 'gobsmacked' by Conservative rejection of Canada-Ukraine trade bill
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 with the backing of the Bloc Quebecois, NDP, and Greens.
While the text of the trade deal does include a commitment that both countries would both, bilaterally and internationally "promote carbon pricing and measures to mitigate carbon leakage risks," the legislation 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."
Asked by reporters on the Hill Wednesday morning to elaborate on his party's decision, Poilievre said he thinks the Liberals' decision to stitch in carbon pricing phrasing "speaks to how pathologically obsessed Trudeau is with the carbon tax."
"That while the knife is at the throat of Ukrainians, he would use that to impose his carbon tax ideology on those poor people. The last thing they need is a carbon tax when they're trying to rebuild from war and from this illegal invasion by Russia," he said.
Asked on the Hill Wednesday about the vote, chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group Liberal MP Yvan Baker accused Poilievre of "never" advocating for "military, humanitarian, or financial support for Ukraine," and said his charge of Canada forcing a carbon tax on Ukraine was a "red herring."
"Ukraine is already signed on to have a carbon tax because Ukraine has to do that to be a member of the EU and the EU already has carbon pricing in place," he said.
"The carbon tax language that's in the agreement doesn't require Ukraine to do anything. It's just a commitment to work to fight climate change, which we should all be able to get behind."
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis disputed the Liberal framing of the Conservatives not supporting Ukraine.
"The deal must be evaluated on its merits. Liberals put a carbon tax that nobody wants into a trade deal, while the same Liberals voted against including arms exports in this bill. Ukraine needs weapons and not a carbon tax," Genuis said, in a post on "X."
Reacting to the latest with the bill, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alexandra Chyczij said her organization is "grateful to all the parties in the House who supported the legislation in second reading."
"Ukraine can and will defeat Russia, but the Ukrainian people need our sustained support," Chyczij said. "We urge all members of Parliament to support the modernization of CUFTA."
IN DEPTH
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6922467.1718138898!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6850735.1713368648!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7001624.1723723759!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'Freedom Convoy' organizer defends charge of encouraging honking during protest
The lawyer for 'Freedom Convoy' organizer Chris Barber told a judge Monday that a court order banning honking in downtown Ottawa during the protest wasn't clear enough.
Liberals, U.S. embassy, some civil servants withdraw from Ottawa Pride parade over pro-Palestinian stance
The Liberal Party of Canada is the latest major group to withdraw from the annual Ottawa Pride parade after organizers pledged solidarity with Palestinians in a statement earlier this month. The federal political party's decision comes as some embassies, civil servants, and local organizations pulled out of the event amid the controversy.
Statistics Canada says median family after-tax income in 2022 down after inflation
Statistics Canada says the median family after-tax income in 2022 fell compared with 2021, after adjustment for inflation, with young people being the hardest hit.
Democrats looking for party unity at national convention in Chicago
Party faithful are feeling invigorated by U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris's swift ascension to the top of the ticket as the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago on Monday following a tumultuous month for the party.
Donald Trump posts image of fake Taylor Swift endorsement
Former U.S. president Donald Trump has posted a fake social media image of pop superstar Taylor Swift asking people to vote for him in the November election.
Canadian among 6 missing after superyacht sinks in storm off Sicily; 1 dead
British tech magnate Mike Lynch and five other people were missing after their luxury superyacht sank during a freak storm off Sicily early Monday, Italy’s civil protection and authorities said. Lynch’s wife and 14 other people survived.
The man turning jet planes into cool houses
Over time, Jon Kotwicki says he and his team are 'creating, you know, kind of our own little airport amusement park' in Wasilla, Alaska.
Canadian retail giant makes bid for 7-Eleven operator
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. could be on the verge of dominating the world's convenience store market after it offered to buy one of the sector's biggest players.
Blinken says Israel agrees to a U.S.-backed proposal for a ceasefire and calls on Hamas to do same
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday that Israel has accepted a proposal to bridge differences holding up a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, and he called on Hamas to do the same, without saying whether concerns cited by the militant group had been addressed.
Local Spotlight
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7005406.1724025477!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Saskatchewan's Twilite Drive-in celebrates 70th anniversary
The Twilite Drive-in Theatre has been serving movie lovers for decades.
Children battling chronic illness get luxury rides to BC Lions game
More than a dozen children who have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses were given an unforgettable experience on the way to Sunday’s BC Lions game.
Decades of protection added to 164 year old New Brunswick lighthouse
Decades of durability have been added to one of Canada’s most photographed lighthouses, the Swallowtail Lighthouse on New Brunswick’s Grand Manan Island.
After multiple open heart surgeries, 10-year-old Montreal boy ready to hit Grade Six running
After four open heart surgeries, 10-year-old Samih Angelo Alame is thriving and ready to hit Grade Six running.
'There needs to be changes': Downtown Vancouver store fed up after spending $300K to fight constant crime
The owners of a thrift store on Vancouver's Granville strip are fed up after spending $300,000 to fight off what they describe as escalating crime over the past three years.
Without bees, life 'wouldn't exist,' says local beekeeper
In light of World Honey Bee Day on Saturday, local beekeepers recognized the crucial role that honey bees play in the ecosystem.
'Best looking criminal': Rooster apprehended by Regina Police finds sanctuary
A video of a rooster in the back of a Regina police cruiser has been making its rounds on social media.
'A lot of blisters': Edmonton marathon runner to complete course in stiletto heels
At least one runner at the Edmonton marathon on Sunday will be strapping on a pair of stilettos at the starting line.
London, Ont.'s Tessa Virtue and husband Morgan Rielly welcome first child
London, Ont.'s Tessa Virtue has welcomed her first child with husband and Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman, Morgan Rielly.