NDP statement on the suspension of US-Canada trade talks

NDP Leader Avi Lewis issued the following reaction:

"The Prime Minister was right to walk away from the negotiating table last night. I believe Canadians are united in this crucial moment, on this crucial point: no deal is better than a bad deal.

Accepting a deal that would lock in pointless, destructive tariffs and undermine our ability to regulate big tech would have been disastrous for our workers, industries and sovereignty. PM Carney read the room by rejecting the Americans’ offer.

Wab Kinew got it exactly right — the President is weak and cannot be trusted to abide by an agreement. We should stand firm, knowing it’s what the vast majority of Canadians want our government to do.

But what happens next matters. We are not out of this yet.

You can count on New Democrats to be a voice for swift and substantial aid to affected workers and industries. This is also a moment to rapidly transition to an economy that is more independent, that prioritizes housing, health, climate and the cost of living.

What brings us together and makes us strong is how we take care of each other in hard times. That’s the Canada the NDP will fight for in this crisis moment and those to come."