OTTAWA, Nov 24 (Portal) – Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday his main political rival on the right would abandon Ukraine under the influence of Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner in next year’s U.S. election let.
In a preliminary vote on Tuesday, all 109 Conservative MPs in the House of Commons rejected updated Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement legislation, which was unanimously supported by all other parties.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who is leading in all polls, said his party does not support the proposal because it would force Ukraine to introduce a carbon tax. The trade bill includes language saying the two countries will “promote” carbon pricing and reductions, but contains no provisions forcing such a plan.
“To see the Conservative Party of Canada choosing not to support Ukraine with something it needs, using the absurd excuse that Ukraine would put a price on pollution, is ridiculous,” Trudeau told reporters in French at a press conference in Newfoundland.
“The real story is the rise of a right-wing, American MAGA influence mindset that has caused Canadian conservatives, once among Ukraine’s strongest defenders, to turn away from something Ukraine needs in its hour of need.” Trudeau said a little later in English after a meeting with top European Union officials.
Trump, who is seeking re-election in 2024 and is the front-runner for his party’s presidential nomination, has sharply criticized U.S. support for Kiev and said he could end the war in 24 hours if re-elected.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a climate conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on October 18, 2022. Portal/Blair Gable/File Photo Acquire License Rights
A relatively small but vocal group of Republicans has criticized Ukraine’s aid for months and accused Kiev of failing to adequately combat corruption, something Ukrainian and U.S. officials deny.
Canada has the second largest Ukrainian expatriate community after Russia.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress, a lobbying group, said in a statement it was disappointed that the Conservatives voted against the trade deal.
On Thursday, Poilievre insisted he supported Ukraine and a free trade agreement but “voted against Justin Trudeau introducing a carbon tax into this pre-existing agreement.”
On Friday, Sebastian Skamski, a spokesman for Poilievre, did not respond to a question about whether the leader was taking a cue from Trump, but said it was disappointing that the Liberals were “promoting punitive carbon taxes for the first time in Canada.” binding trade agreement”. Story.”
Opinion polls show Poilievre would defeat Trudeau and likely win a majority if an election were held today. One of Poilievre’s main promises is to “cancel” Canada’s carbon tax if elected.
Poilievre said pricing has increased concerns about the cost of living amid high inflation.
Reporting by Steve Scherer, editing by Deepa Babington
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