Liberal minister touts trade, criticizes Conservative record on Ukraine in Prairie tour
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Trade Minister Mary Ng is touring the Prairie provinces to speak with Ukrainian community and business leaders this week as Liberals accuse Conservatives of turning their backs on the war-torn country.
Trade Minister Mary Ng is touring the Prairie provinces to speak with Ukrainian community and business leaders this week as Liberals accuse Conservatives of turning their backs on the war-torn country.
Ng is making stops in Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg -- three cities that have large Ukrainian diaspora populations -- to tout the Liberal government's work to modernize its trade deal with Ukraine.
"When Ukraine wins the war, Canadian businesses want to be there to be part of the rebuild effort, and this agreement means that our businesses and exporters of all sizes have a framework to do so," Ng said in a statement.
The tour follows the Liberals' recent newspaper ad campaign in 18 Conservative-held ridings in the Prairies, which accused Tories of abandoning Ukraine because they voted against a bill to implement the updated deal.
While the Conservatives have repeatedly voiced support for Ukraine, leader Pierre Poilievre has said they opposed the bill because of language in the trade deal that says both countries will promote carbon pricing.
Ukraine already has a price on carbon in place, and officials have said nothing in the deal binds them to that policy.
"It's disheartening to see Conservative politicians playing politics with Ukraine, but I can assure you, our government will stand with Ukraine every day until they win the war," Ng said.
