The federal Conservative government has launched an aggressive national campaign to sell the benefits of a potential Canada-European Union free trade deal that could be signed this year.
Federal trade minister Ed Fast kicked off the blitz at an early morning speech today to the Economic Club of Canada, during which he claimed that greater access to the $17 trillion European market could boost the Canadian economy by $12 billion.
Fast and foreign affairs minister John Baird, along with 17 Conservative MPs and cabinet ministers who traveled to all 10 provinces, promoted the potential deal as a boost for the entire economy.
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Export agriculture was singled out in a number of the cross-country speeches as a major beneficiary.
“Whether you are a fisherman, farmer, manufacturer or high-tech worker, the benefits of an ambitious agreement to you, your family and your community will be real and significant,” said Fast.
In an interview from Regina where he talked about the potential benefits to grain, oilseed and pulse producers and processors, Saskatchewan Conservative MP Randy Hoback said the prairie grain sector has much to gain.
“There is a huge potential if we get access to 500 million European consumers before the Americans do.”
Cattle and grain lobby groups embraced the government message.
The Council of Canadians and the National Farmers Union quickly denounced the proposed deal as a sellout of Canadian interests.
In his Ottawa remarks, Fast took direct aim at the critics, calling on members of the Economic Club to become “champions for trade.”
He said the New Democratic Party official opposition in Parliament is a captive of anti-trade activists and unions.
“Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric,” he said in a speech that was unusually partisan, considering the non-partisan forum.
“When the NDP talks about fair trade, that is a code word for no trade.”
He said the critics have a vision of “a Canada that cowers, a Canada that cannot compete.”
The trade minister, who represents an Abbotsford, B.C., riding with a significant supply management sector, told the audience that protectionism is “toxic to the world’s economic environment.”
He bragged that during six years in office, the Conservatives have eliminated 1,800 tariffs, mainly on manufactured goods.
In negotiations with the EU, a significant issue is the European complaint that dairy tariffs as high as 300 percent restrict Europe’s dairy industry and cheese manufacturers from competing in the Canadian market.
Canada insists it will defend supply management.
Matthias Brinkman, the EU’s head of delegation in Ottawa, told reporters last week that after almost three years of negotiations, sensitive agricultural issues have not yet been discussed.
He said European countries expect more dairy access if they are to consider more access for prairie hormone-free beef.
