Trade, Trump and Tariffs: With supply management a key sticking point, Canadians divided over its future

As news Mexico and the U.S. have largely resolved their trade differences is absorbed on this side of the border, Canadians are expressing more anxiety about what the breakthrough will mean for their own country.

And, as a new public opinion poll from the Angus Reid Institute reveals, they are deeply divided over supply management – the very issue President Donald Trump has indicated is the preventing the conclusion of Canada-u.s. NAFTA renegotiations.

Initially, more Canadians would like to see their government stand firm on supply management in negotiations with the U.S. (45 per cent) rather than see it end the system (31 per cent).

However, when presented with a situation in which Canadian farmers would be compensated for lost quota value and given assistance in adjusting to a post-supply-management market, a small but significant number of Canadians change their minds on this key question.

The net result is a near-even split, with 37 per cent of Canadians saying Canada should end supply management in order to secure a trade deal with the U.S., while 34 per cent say Canada should still stand firm in support of the system. The remaining three-in-10 (30 per cent) are unsure.

The full poll can be viewed at www.angusreid.org/trumpnafta-mexico-deadline

In light of the Federal Court of Appeal decision on the Trans Mountain pipeline, the NDP is once again calling on Premier Scott Moe to develop a schedule for replacement of existing pipelines to keep steelworkers on the job.

“When a project like this is under review, it’s the federal government’s job to ensure there

are clear goalposts. We need to hold the federal government to account for their failures on this project and ensure a fair, safe and consistent regulatory environment,” NDP Leader Ryan Meili said. “We also need to do whatever is in Saskatchewan’s power to keep our steelworkers on the job. That’s why we’re calling on Premier Moe to support our proposal for an evidencebased replacement schedule of existing pipelines in Saskatchewan.”