REFORM THE FUTURE FOR TORIES: KENNEY
Markets not answer to all problems
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney believes the future of conservatism lies in parties like Canada’s Tories moving away from promoting laissez-faire capitalism and instead embracing the growing “reform conservatism” movement in the U.S., which sees a role for government in addressing the challenges of people who have failed to get ahead even as the economy grows.
Kenney said he is following closely the American discussion about reform conservatism, a movement that questions the notion that a growing economy benefits everyone and which dismisses the idea that the market is always right.
“It’s a conservatism focused on social mobility and not just simply laissezfaire liberalism or even neo-liberalism, but one that understands that the state can sometimes use market mechanisms to help lift up people who have barriers to upward social mobility,” said Kenney, in an interview with the National Post on Monday.
“That whole bundle of ideas appeals to me greatly,” said Kenney. “I think it’s a great source of ideas for the federal Conservatives.”
Before winning the leadership of the United Conservative Party, Kenney had planned to bring some of these new ideas to Alberta, but he said there was a more urgent need to bring investment back to the province after the economic downturn. For that reason, Kenney made a business tax-cut the flagship policy of the UCP election campaign, which he hopes will entice capital back to Alberta.
In the event that the Alberta economy starts firing on all cylinders again, Kenney intends to revisit some of these ideas.
“I’m hearing very good things,” he said. “I’m hearing from unions and others that it’s looking good, and I hope they put it up to a vote.”
He had earlier criticized Pelosi for delaying ratification, saying in a Tweet on Saturday that “our economy would be even better” if Democrats had not called for additional amendments and slowed the approval process.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said earlier Monday that he expects a decision from the U.S. on the agreement very soon, saying it is “the moment” for ratification to begin.
“Now is the time to vote on it,” Lopez Obrador said Monday. “I am optimistic we can reach a deal.”
Freeland is meeting with U.S. and Mexican officials in Mexico City on Tuesday.
Even if Congress decides to move ahead, the U.S. ratification system is complex and would take some time to come into force. Some trade experts still believe that differences over the latest round of amendments could scupper a final agreement.
NOW IS THE TIME TO VOTE ON IT. I AM OPTIMISTIC WE CAN REACH A DEAL.
The White House and Democrats have spent months locked in tense negotiations over four key areas: environment, labour commitments, drug-patent protections and enforcement mechanisms. In recent weeks, the discussions have focused on the deal’s labour enforcement.
One of the main sticking points was a Democratic proposal to enforce labour rights by allowing products from factories accused of violations to be inspected and blocked at the U.S. border. California Representative Jimmy Gomez, a member of House Democratic negotiating team, said last week that Pelosi and Lighthizer have offered Mexico a compromise on labour enforcement that “respects Mexico’s sovereignty.”
However, the latest breakthrough appears to have followed Mexico accepting — with a five-year phasein period — a U.S. demand to tighten the definition of North American steel in a section of the agreement dealing with where cars and their parts can be said to originate.
Products that officially originate in North America get more favourable treatment than ones that originate abroad but come through one of the countries in the agreement.
The latest version of the deal will have to get sign-off from major U.S. unions on the issue of steel and aluminum and other provisions that have snarled talks so far.