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OTTAWA - Today we saw officials for the International Trade Minister hold a technical briefing for media on the future of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), after a request was denied to have the same officials brief the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade more than a week ago when Conservative members called for an emergency meeting in light of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union (EU).

 

“Having seen the groundswell of uncertainty and speculation surrounding CETA post Brexit, I guess the Minister realized she made mistakes by not addressing the situation sooner and by breaking her promise to have her officials available to the committee,” said Gerry Ritz, International Trade Critic and Member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade.

 

“There’s a call to have the government organize business networks already built around the deal to lobby behind-the-scenes over the summer in order to shore up support in the EU, which I agree with; but the Trade Minister’s ‘fantasy’ scenario of having unanimous support in Parliament for the agreement may not happen if she continues to leave the trade committee in the dark,” concluded Ritz.

 

 

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