Latest news with #Blanchet
Ottawa Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Senate passes bill to protect supply management from any future trade deals
OTTAWA — The Bloc Québécois' long and often rocky road to protect supply management from any concessions in future trade negotiations has come to a successful end. The Senate has adopted Bill C-202, making it the first bill set to receive royal assent in the new session of Parliament. Article content 'We won,' said Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet enthusiastically, hours after the Senate adopted his party's bill. Article content Article content Article content C-202 sought to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to prevent the minister from 'making a commitment' that would increase the tariff rate quota for dairy, poultry, or eggs in trade negotiations. It would also prevent tariff reductions on these products when they are imported in excess. Article content Article content The Bloc wanted to strengthen the long-standing federal government policy to maintain Canada's supply management system, including its production control, pricing mechanisms and import controls. Article content The House of Commons unanimously passed the bill last week and the Senate did so 'with division' on Tuesday evening. Article content 'The notion of unanimity really weighed heavily. It was all parties and the unanimity of elected officials. So, everyone who speaks for Canadians and Quebecers was in favour,' Blanchet said at a press conference. Article content Article content Bloc Québécois MP Yves Perron has been championing this bill for over five years. In an interview with the National Post, Perron expressed his pride. Article content Article content 'We have just demonstrated that the Bloc Québécois serves a purpose. I think we are capable of moving forward on issues and on a scale that is extremely positive for Quebec, but also positive for the rest of Canada,' he said. 'And the rest of Canada has finally understood this.' Article content But the Grain Growers of Canada argued that 'Parliament chose to prioritize one group of farmers over another,' while the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance said it was 'deeply concerned' by the adoption of 'a flawed piece of legislation that sets a troubling precedent, undermining Canada's longstanding commitment to the rules-based international trading system.' Article content Even if the Senate passed the bill, many senators still had some reservations on Tuesday. In a speech in the Senate, Alberta Sen. Paula Simons expressed concerns about what Bill C-202 means for national unity because it was from a Bloc MP, which advocates for the separation of Quebec from the rest of Canada.
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Senate passes bill to protect supply management from any future trade deals
OTTAWA — The Bloc Québécois' long and often rocky road to protect supply management from any concessions in future trade negotiations has come to a successful end. The Senate has adopted Bill C-202, making it the first bill set to receive royal assent in the new session of Parliament. Article content 'We won,' said Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet enthusiastically, hours after the Senate adopted his party's bill. Article content Article content Article content C-202 sought to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to prevent the minister from 'making a commitment' that would increase the tariff rate quota for dairy, poultry, or eggs in trade negotiations. It would also prevent tariff reductions on these products when they are imported in excess. Article content Article content The Bloc wanted to strengthen the long-standing federal government policy to maintain Canada's supply management system, including its production control, pricing mechanisms and import controls. Article content The House of Commons unanimously passed the bill last week and the Senate did so 'with division' on Tuesday evening. Article content 'The notion of unanimity really weighed heavily. It was all parties and the unanimity of elected officials. So, everyone who speaks for Canadians and Quebecers was in favour,' Blanchet said at a press conference. Article content Article content Bloc Québécois MP Yves Perron has been championing this bill for over five years. In an interview with the National Post, Perron expressed his pride. Article content 'We have just demonstrated that the Bloc Québécois serves a purpose. I think we are capable of moving forward on issues and on a scale that is extremely positive for Quebec, but also positive for the rest of Canada,' he said. 'And the rest of Canada has finally understood this.' Article content But the Grain Growers of Canada argued that 'Parliament chose to prioritize one group of farmers over another,' while the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance said it was 'deeply concerned' by the adoption of 'a flawed piece of legislation that sets a troubling precedent, undermining Canada's longstanding commitment to the rules-based international trading system.' Article content Even if the Senate passed the bill, many senators still had some reservations on Tuesday. In a speech in the Senate, Alberta Sen. Paula Simons expressed concerns about what Bill C-202 means for national unity because it was from a Bloc MP, which advocates for the separation of Quebec from the rest of Canada.
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Senate passes bill to protect supply management from any future trade deals
OTTAWA — The Bloc Québécois' long and often rocky road to protect supply management from any concessions in future trade negotiations has come to a successful end. The Senate has adopted Bill C-202, making it the first bill set to receive royal assent in the new session of Parliament. 'We won,' said Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet enthusiastically, hours after the Senate adopted his party's bill. C-202 sought to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to prevent the minister from 'making a commitment' that would increase the tariff rate quota for dairy, poultry, or eggs in trade negotiations. It would also prevent tariff reductions on these products when they are imported in excess. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The Bloc wanted to strengthen the long-standing federal government policy to maintain Canada's supply management system, including its production control, pricing mechanisms and import controls. The House of Commons unanimously passed the bill last week and the Senate did so 'with division' on Tuesday evening. 'The notion of unanimity really weighed heavily. It was all parties and the unanimity of elected officials. So, everyone who speaks for Canadians and Quebecers was in favour,' Blanchet said at a press conference. Bloc Québécois MP Yves Perron has been championing this bill for over five years. In an interview with the National Post, Perron expressed his pride. 'We have just demonstrated that the Bloc Québécois serves a purpose. I think we are capable of moving forward on issues and on a scale that is extremely positive for Quebec, but also positive for the rest of Canada,' he said. 'And the rest of Canada has finally understood this.' But the Grain Growers of Canada argued that 'Parliament chose to prioritize one group of farmers over another,' while the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance said it was 'deeply concerned' by the adoption of 'a flawed piece of legislation that sets a troubling precedent, undermining Canada's longstanding commitment to the rules-based international trading system.' Even if the Senate passed the bill, many senators still had some reservations on Tuesday. In a speech in the Senate, Alberta Sen. Paula Simons expressed concerns about what Bill C-202 means for national unity because it was from a Bloc MP, which advocates for the separation of Quebec from the rest of Canada. 'It does seem strange to allow a separatist party to set Canada's national trade policy to such an extent, and at the expense of Western Canadian producers and agricultural exporters,' she said. Parliament extensively studied an earlier version of the bill during the last legislature. A Senate committee heard from numerous witnesses, including government trade negotiators. 'From a trade negotiating perspective, the passage of the bill would certainly narrow the range of concessions that could be made to reach an agreement,' said Doug Forsyth, the director general of market access and trade controls bureau at Global Affairs Canada in a Senate testimony . 'I think it would be reasonable to expect future negotiating partners to adjust their own approach to negotiations with Canada,' he added. The previous version of this bill made headlines last fall when the Bloc threatened to bring down the Trudeau government if it wasn't passed alongside another bill. It was ultimately passed by nearly 80 per cent of the House of Commons in June 2023, despite opposition from some Conservative MPs. However, the Senate never passed it, due to prorogation and political maneuvering by two senators, Peter Boehm and Peter Harder. Harder was particularly opposed to the bill stating in 2024 that 'supply management has enjoyed religious-like devotion' in recent years. He also characterized the bill as 'both reckless and dangerous' that could 'do significant harm to Canada's interests.' 'I suppose congratulations are also in order for the strong dairy lobby because they played no small part in this. It's the same dairy lobby that is financed and operated on the backs of Canadians through supply-managed goods themselves,' he said at the time . In an interview with National Post on Wednesday, Sen. Harder said he believes the Senate's role is to defer to the elected legislature, even if he stood by his previous statements. 'I'm an institutionalist and I believe that the Senate should not hold itself in opposition to the House of Commons,' he said. In Quebec, the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), which represents roughly 42,000 Quebec farmers, celebrated the adoption of the bill, claiming 'dairy, egg, and poultry producers have long awaited this necessary and legitimate protection for their livelihood.' 'All parliamentarians and senators who supported this bill, as well as its previous versions, can congratulate themselves on having strengthened the country's food security,' said Martin Caron, the UPA president. With files from Simon Tuck Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
CTV News
31-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Economy becomes top concern amongst Canadians: Nanos
Pollster Nik Nanos on the economy becoming the top issue for Canadians and Blanchet rising to third in recent polling for preferred prime minister.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Bloc Québécois strikes again to protect supply management
OTTAWA — First there was Bill C-216, then C-282, and now C-202. The Bloc Québécois has, once again, introduced a private member's bill aimed at ensuring 'full protection for supply management' in trade agreements. The text of the bill has not yet been released, but the objective that was underlined in previous bills was to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to prevent the minister from 'making a commitment' that would increase the tariff rate quota for dairy, poultry, or eggs in trade negotiations. It would also prevent tariff reductions on these products when they are imported in excess. Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet said Bill C-202 was 'similar' and believes the House of Commons could agree very quickly to send it back to the Senate, where two influential senators effectively blocked its passage in the last Parliament using parliamentary procedures. 'We can send it to the Senate before summer break. That's clear. Could the Senate dispose of it before the summer break? My optimism is more cautious,' Blanchet said. Bill C-282 made headlines last fall when the Bloc threatened to bring down the government if it wasn't passed alongside another bill. It was ultimately passed by nearly 80 per cent of the House of Commons in June 2023, despite opposition from some Conservative MPs. However, the Senate never passed it, thanks to Senators Peter Boehm and Peter Harder. 'I don't think it's in Canada's national interest to pass this bill because it divides the agricultural community … and it will impact future trade negotiations,' Sen. Peter Boehm said at the time. Neither senator commented Thursday. At one point, the Bloc said it was facing 'hostility' in the upper house. Supporters of the bill say it would protect farmers and local communities across the country, particularly in Quebec, while opponents argue it would tie the hands of Canadian negotiators in trade talks. The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is among its opponents, saying such a bill 'will hurt the 90 per cent of farmers who depend on trade.' CAFTA's executive director Michael Harvey told the National Post that 'every time (the bill was introduced) it's been a bad idea' and 'it's still a bad idea.' Harvey stated that his organization does not oppose supply management and does not claim it should be affected by future trade negotiations. 'What we're saying is there's no reason to legislate that negotiators take one sector of the Canadian economy off the table and leave all other sectors on the table,' he said. Blanchet introduced the bill early in the session because he wants it passed before Canada negotiates a 'formal agreement' with the United States. Under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), a review of the agreement is scheduled for 2026. However, Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that he wants a new 'economic and security deal' with the United States. Blanchet indicated that he would meet with the Prime Minister in the coming days and that the bill would be discussed. After all, Carney expressed some interest in the bill and did not reject it during the election campaign. In the speech from the throne read by King Charles III earlier this week, the government stated that it would 'protect supply management.' On Thursday, in the House of Commons, the prime minister declared that 'supply management will never be on the agenda of negotiations with the Americans' and that he 'will protect supply management.' 'We will closely consider the Bloc Québécois bill,' he said. Now, Harvey hopes Carney won't 'handcuff' the government's negotiators by supporting the bill. 'I think it would be an indication of a lack of confidence in our negotiators to do so,' he said. National Post atrepanier@ Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what's really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers Sign up here. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here.
