OTTAWA – The Liberal and NDP leaders pounced Friday on a debate remark by Stephen Harper that the auto sector may not like the outcome of the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks.
Justin Trudeau said Harper needs to be more forthcoming to Canadians about the secretive trade talks, a frequent complaint by critics of the 12-country negotiations.
Tom Mulcair cited the remark as further evidence that Harper’s policies have harmed the auto and manufacturing sectors, leading to hundreds of thousands job losses.
Harper raised the issue during the Thursday night debate in Calgary, saying the auto sector may not like everything in the agreement but Canada can’t afford to be out of the pact.
The Harper government says the TPP is crucial to Canada’s economic future, noting that it would encompass 40 per cent of the world’s combined gross domestic product.
A new round of talks last month in Hawaii failed to bring about an agreement.
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