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Thursday September 23, 2016

September 22, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday September 23, 2016

Trudeau says Canada has ‘extremely high standards’ for extradition treaty with China

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada will maintain high standards as it negotiates an extradition treaty with China, while critics raise concerns about that country’s weak record on human rights.

August 30, 2016

“Canada has extremely high standards on extradition treaties,” Trudeau said to reporters at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa.

“We have a very, very rigorous process, that conforms with the expectations and values of Canadians, and that continues.”

The Liberals announced last week negotiations have begun on a treaty that would allow the Chinese government to pursue someone on Canadian soil for crimes committed in China.

The issue was raised Wednesday in Question Period, where Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose called Trudeau’s approach “shockingly naive.”

September 2, 2016

“Our allies like Australia, the U.S. and New Zealand don’t have treaties of this type with China,” Ambrose said.

“The Chinese government has orchestrated thousands of cyberattacks against Canada and, according to CSIS and the RCMP, has sent foreign agents into Canada without our permission,” she said.

“Canadians expect the prime minister to act in our national interest. What possible benefit to Canada would an extradition with China provide us?”

August 24, 2016

Trudeau said his government has succeeded in resolving consular cases in China and in increasing access to the Chinese market after the “hot and cold” relationship with Beijing in the Harper years.

“The benefit to Canada is having a high-level security dialogue where we can talk about issues that are important to us and issues that are important to the Chinese government,” Trudeau said. “We continue to be strong in our values, in our principles and our expectations of anyone we engage with around the world.”

Chinese Premier Li Kegiang arrived in Ottawa Wednesday afternoon, three weeks after Trudeau visited China. The two are expected to talk about increased economic co-operation between the two countries, but human rights remain an issue. (Source: CBC News)

Friday September 2, 2016

September 1, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday September 2, 2016

Trudeau and Chinese premier explore possible free trade deal

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has brought Canada closer to China after agreeing with the Chinese premier to deepen the countries’ relationships — and explore a possible free trade deal.

After meeting with Trudeau, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told reporters through a translator that Canada and China will launch a feasibility study on an eventual free-trade deal.

A senior Canadian official later said the two countries have ongoing technical discussions on free trade, but stressed that there are no negotiations under way at this point.

“This year marks 45 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and China,” Trudeau said as he stood beside Li in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, which overlooks Tiananmen Square.

“My father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, played an important role in establishing a partnership between our two countries when he was prime minister. So, I’m very happy to be extending that effort now.”

The countries also agreed to hold annual meetings between the Chinese premier and the Canadian prime minister on a range of issues, including national security and the rule of law. (Source: Toronto Star)

Tuesday August 30, 2016

August 29, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday August 30, 2016

Trudeau leaves on first official visit to China

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has left for his first official visit to China, with both countries expressing hope they can improve their economic connection.

Trudeau, who is accompanied by his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and daughter Ella-Grace Margaret Trudeau, said last week that he hopes the visit will be a reset in the relationship between the two countries.

Trudeau will be kept busy, with a host of business-related meetings during stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

He’ll also attend the G20 leaders’ summit in Hangzhou.

The Chinese government moved last week to take the sting out of a potential irritant during the visit, the issue of human rights.

China’s ambassador to Canada said in an interview with The Canadian Press that his country has made progress in addressing international concerns in recent years.

Luo Zhaohui acknowledged China has a long way to go to further improve the situation.

Trudeau has said he will continue voicing Canada’s human rights concerns to China’s leadership. (Source: Toronto Star)

Wednesday August 24, 2016

August 23, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 24, 2016

Locals outraged at Ottawa’s “deafening silence” on steel industry

Union leaders, Opposition MPs and even the Chamber of Commerce are pressing the federal government to help Canada’s struggling steel industry.

Two Hamilton Members of Parliament, three chambers of commerce and union leaders at the local and provincial levels separately have called for help for the industry and especially for retirees and workers in Hamilton.

Thursday September 26, 2015

NDP MPs Scott Duvall (Hamilton Mountain) and Dave Christopherson (Hamilton Centre) have written to Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, saying the federal government has stayed on the sidelines too long.

“To date, your government has not been tangibly involved in any way to help protect the jobs, benefits and pensions of current and former employees of USSC/Stelco despite commitments previously made by colleagues and the Prime Minister” they wrote. “Workers, pensioners, the business community and the City of Hamilton have all appealed for your help. So far, you and your government have been missing in action.”

As a start, they want the government to release the “secret deal” that ended a lawsuit against U.S. Steel for breaking the production and employment promises it made to get government approval for the acquisition.

They also back a call by the United Steelworkers union for a public inquiry into Canadian bankruptcy law they say favours creditors at the expense of workers and retirees, and the 2007 takeover of Stelco by U.S. Steel. Duvall has raised the issue in Parliament several times.

September 18, 2014

U.S. Steel Canada, the former Stelco, has been under creditor protection since Sept. 16, 2014. It is seeking a buyer for the mills in Hamilton and Nanticoke.

On the business front, chambers of commerce in Hamilton, Windsor and Sault Ste. Marie are taking a joint resolution to the Canadian chamber’s national convention calling for a policy to protect the industry from unfair foreign competition.

Friday October 9, 2015

“The biggest issue for us is dumping from China,” said Hamilton Chamber of Commerce president Keanin Loomis. “Obviously there’s a real issue of fairness there.”

Products are dumped in foreign markets when they are sold for less than their costs of production or with subsidies from a government.

“What we want is a level playing field in the global production and procurement process,” added Rory Ring, executive director of the Sault chamber. “We’re competing against companies that are either government owned or that operate with less than reasonable environmental and labour laws.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Wednesday August 26, 2015

August 25, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 26, 2015

Fiscal plans take centre stage after markets turmoil

As global stock markets plunged on Monday, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper urged voters to stick with his party’s fiscal plan, while NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said a change in government would boost the economy.

2011-2015

The S&P/TSX composite ended the day down 421 points while the Dow Jones industrial average lost 588 points. The loonie closed at its lowest level since August 2004, hitting 75.4 cents U.S.

Speaking in Quebec, Harper acknowledged that Canada is facing “economic challenges,” but pointed to the Conservative record of investing in innovation, infrastructure, immigration, training, and trade to create economic growth.

“We’re making investments in the things that will get us through this, and position us well for the long term,” he said.

He also highlighted Canada’s “disciplined” financial framework, including a strong banking system, a balanced budget, and low taxes.

By contrast, Harper said, the NDP and Liberal Party are proposing large-scale permanent spending increases, which they would finance through deficits and tax increases.

“We think that is clearly the wrong track. It would be clearly damaging both in the short term and the longer term in this country,” he said. “Given the challenges around us, we need to stick with a long-term plan that has been working and will work.”

Harper’s office released a short statement Monday stating that he had spoken on the phone in the morning with Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz.

“Prime Minister Harper and Governor Poloz discussed the recent decline in global stock markets and commodity prices, slowing growth in China and emerging markets and the potential impacts on Canada’s economy,” the statement read. (Source: CTV News)