If Andrew Scheer has a coherent and constructive argument to make on trade, I really wish he would make it.
Over the summer, the leader of the federal Conservatives lashed out at the governing Liberals as Mexico and the U.S. held one-on-one talks to move the negotiations along. I challenged him at the time to explain what he'd have Canada concede to get a deal, but never heard back.
Then he tried to say Canada gave away too much to sign the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal replacing NAFTA.
Now he is trying to claim that he'd have got a better deal.
When It Comes To Trade, Andrew Scheer Is Full Of Hot Air
It's easy to sit on the sidelines, or even further away, and make big pronouncements about what you'd get if you were at the table.
Well, as someone who has spent his working life at bargaining tables, and was part of the advisory team for the USMCA talks, I can tell you that a know hot air when I see it — and Scheer is full of it.
Just this week, Scheer told the House of Commons that he felt the USMCA contained "very generous" concessions on drug patents.I
"[The government] capitulated on pharmaceuticals, agreeing to Donald Trump's plan for higher drug costs for Canadians," Scheer said.
Really? Does that mean Scheer supports pharmacare in Canada as a way to mitigate the cost of medications in this country? If it does, Scheer needs to stop fudging and say so. In an interview with Global news, for instance, he dodged a direct question on whether he supports pharmacare, saying government should cut taxes instead.
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