NDP leader Thomas Mulcair denounced the TPP pact signed by 12 Pacific Rim countries as an attack against Canada's manufacturing sector and an assault on Canada's farming supply management system.
"Canadians deserve better," said Mulcair of a deal that he said was signed in secret by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper but rejected by even U.S. Republicans as well as Hillary Clinton.
He was joined by the NDP's international trade critic Tracey Ramsey, whose constituency of Windsor Essex was a one-time manufacturing hub that is now suffering from high unemployment thanks in part to previous trade deals that have undermined Canadian manufacturing jobs.
"We know that the TPP will jeopardize 20,000 jobs in the auto sector," sad Ramsey, adding that it would lock in property rights benefiting major American corporations to the detriment of Canadians and lock in high drug prices.
She also slammed the new Liberal government for "refusing to fight for a better deal."
Mulcair tied in his TPP criticisms to ongoing inequality in Canadian society and his party's ongoing fight for good jobs, promising that he would hold the Liberal government to account on both its ratification of the TPP and its upcoming federal budget plans.
"Inequality remains one of the most fundamental challenges we face in Canada today," said Mulcair, citing the examples of a First Nations child unable to access clean water, or a senior forced to choose between food and medication.
However the NDP leader, who is presently preparing for a caucus meeting in Montebello, QC, faced ongoing questions over his leadership of the NDP, a party that was widely tipped to win last year's federal election before Justin Trudeau's Liberals made a surprise comeback from third place.
Mulcair responded that he would "continue to work tirelessly to engage with our base and work with our caucus."
He acknowledged his party's failure on election night, saying that he would gain as much information as possible as to why the NDP did not win and would take on board lessons learned in future.
"No-one was more disappointed than me," said Mulcair of his party's third-place result, behind both the winning Liberals and the Conservatives, who formed the next Official Opposition.
He spoke of a "wellsping of support," for the NDP's values in Canada, but ruled out mapping out a full game plan for the 2019 federal election at his party's upcoming convention in Edmonton this April.
"We haven't made it to the cup final very often as a party," said Mulcair of his hoped-for win in last year's election.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Today's must read
B.C. provincial budget funds nearly $1 billion for climate action
'Riya was a dreamer': Mother of slain 11-year-old Ontario girl heartbroken
Doug Ford just urged Ontario students to wash their mouths out with soap
BREAKING: NEB declines to consider climate impacts of Trans Mountain
Alberta expands oil-by-rail capacity by 120,000 barrels per day
Gerald Butts resigns from PMO
Tories are 'joyous' about departure of 'feared' Trudeau advisor
Five things you should know about Gerald Butts, following his resignation
Sidewalk Labs plans massive takeover of Toronto neighbourhood
'Making this up': Study says oilsands assessments marred by weak science
Former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell accused of sexual assault: British newspaper
Wilson-Raybould snubbed Senate committee on corporate corruption bill
Trump's national emergency: from shutdown frying pan to constitutional fire
Water monitors are getting a new tool to tackle toxic algae in Lake Winnipeg
'People will die if nothing is done'
Scientist who resisted censorship of climate report lost her job
What is the Green New Deal and how would it benefit society?
Urgency in climate change advocacy is backfiring, says Citizen Potawatomi Nation scientist
A lawsuit to save Ontario's basic income program has failed
'It’s like pulling teeth': Catherine McKenna accused of stalling on fossil fuel subsidies
Indigenous technologists using tech tools as path to self-determination
Public outrage growing over Doug Ford's 'crazy' comments
How Trudeau's climate promise fizzled
We asked Rod Phillips to explain how Ontario's latest proposal is different from a carbon tax
Oil and gas industry rewards fossil fuel growth at its peril, report warns
Why François Legault is wrong about Islamophobia in Quebec
Wilson-Raybould resignation spells trouble for Liberals
Trudeau 'surprised' by Wilson-Raybould's resignation
Doug Ford’s government just proposed a carbon tax on industry
Why a UN committee’s new Site C deadline shouldn’t be ignored
Parliamentary watchdog rejects Morneau's criticism of its Trans Mountain report
Noam Chomsky: 'In a couple of generations, organized human society may not survive.'
$2 billion oil industry subsidy in the making as Trans Mountain files toll application
Delivering on CleanBC plan means hitting these 3 milestones
Hydro-Québec offers $40M to Maine for power project
Facing jail over Trans Mountain protest, lawyer asks court to consider that topic 'no one wants to talk about'
Politicians denounce Trudeau government for sexist treatment of Jody Wilson-Raybould
Trudeau says he and Wilson-Raybould have 'shared goals'
Canadian banks send signal that Redwater decision now weighs on oilpatch loans
Democrats seek Green New Deal to address climate change
Governor says Washington will try to influence Trans Mountain 'every way' it can
Putting pay transparency on ice in Ontario
Doug Ford's Ontario proposes to stop tracking carbon pollution from fuel sold by oil and gas companies
Trudeau denies 'directing' Wilson-Raybould to intervene in prosecution of SNC-Lavalin
Andrea Reimer: Surviving the shattered glass ceiling
Comments