Ottawa, ON – Stephanie Kusie, Conservative Shadow Minister for International Trade, Eric Duncan, Conservative Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Québec Lieutenant, released the following statement on the Canada-EU Summit delivering no results for Canadians:
“This week’s Canada-EU Summit was just more Liberal theatrics to distract Canadians from the cost-of-living crisis the Liberals created. Nothing came out of the Summit that will save Canadians money on their groceries, gas or mortgage.
“Not a single tariff was removed. No trade barrier was eliminated. EU restrictions continue to block Canadian beef and pork from entering European markets. Nine countries who have refused to ratify CETA still have not done so.
“Meanwhile, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism affects $2.8 billion worth of Canadian exports. Canadian steel and aluminum workers are already being squeezed by Liberal industrial carbon taxes and unjustified American tariffs. They cannot afford another carbon tariff that puts Canadian jobs at risk.
“It is clear this Summit was never about delivering results for Canadians. It was about generating headlines for Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“While Mark Carney focuses on summits, declarations and promises of future meetings, more Canadians are turning to food banks than ever in Canadian history. Liberal taxes, anti-development laws and red tape keep blocking Canadian energy, minerals and products from reaching global markets. Immigration has outpaced our jobs, homes and healthcare while Liberal soft-on-crime policies have allowed repeat violent offenders back onto our streets.
“Mark Carney must guarantee Canadians that he will put Canada’s sovereignty first. That means no European taxes, no European regulations and no European immigration rules.
“Conservatives support free trade and defence relationships with Europe. That is why Mark Carney should be focused on securing ratification of CETA from the remaining nine countries instead of holding more fancy summits. He must also take real action to fix the problems he created here at home.
“Conservatives will never stop fighting for real solutions that save Canadians money and jobs. We will keep Canadians safe, fix immigration and put Canada first.