Canada fortunate to have Freeland

Dear editor: Dan Albas blaming Liberals for the unfortunate state of the NAFTA talks is disingenuous. He takes his cue from Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, who takes cues from former leader Stephen Harper; returning from exile to become a lead voice in Canada’s version of Trump-style populism that passes for today’s conservatism.

Harper is writing a book about the rise of populism; while his former ministers and conservative operatives pop up in such places as Jason Kenney’s and Doug Ford’s inner circle. Spawning a pugilistic-provincial-leadership style, built on what appears to be a weak understanding of how Canada’s international obligations affect everyone and promoting a short-sighted provincial-centric isolationism; do not or refuse to see Canada is more than the sum of our parts.

Conservatives support trade, but Harper’s legacy of overt partisanship is hardwired in party DNA.

Today’s conservatives never let an opportunity for partisan attack go by; vacillating between accusing the Liberal government of not being amenable enough with Donald Trump and then blaming Liberals for not being tough enough.

Conservative MP Randy Hoback’s suggestion Liberals’ closer ties with China upsets the Americans is conservative fear mongering. And then there was Harper’s secret visit to the White House; which raises legitimate concerns whether conservatives offer secret appeasement behind Canada’s back for partisan gain?

Canada’s dilemma is the Untied States decided to go nuclear. This is not about Canada. It is about misguided campaign promises Trump made to get elected. It is absurd to think Ottawa could avoid the wrath of Trump. Once the U.S. made the calculation to go nuclear with a barrage of tariffs, the hope for a reasonable NAFTA died. No amount of submission was going to change that.

We are fortunate Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland is knowledgeable, perceptive and well-informed; she has done an astounding job under very difficult circumstances. Canada has held firm on what it wants, while forcibly resisting American demands we can not live with.

Canada has remained a steadfast ally of Mexico, but none of that really matters. There never was going to be a reasonable NAFTA with this president. It is unfortunate, but not insurmountable; Canada is a dynamic wealthy sovereign country and we will survive Trump.

Jon Peter Christoff West Kelowna