Friday, April 25, 2025
Federal Election 2025
Example of How a Carney Government Will
"Manage
the Economy"
• Setting
the Record Straight About Canada's Trading
Relations with
China
Example
of How a Carney Government Will
"Manage the Economy"
Setting the Record Straight About Canada's
Trading Relations
with
China
Following the lead of then-U.S. President Joe Biden's administration
which imposed 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in
August 2024, the federal government under Justin Trudeau announced in
September 2024 that the following month it would impose an import tax
of 100 per cent on
electric vehicles (EVs) produced in China. As part of the same package,
Canada put a 25 per cent surtax on steel and aluminum products from
China.
Note that Donald Trump had yet to enter the picture with his tariff wars. Nonetheless, paying no attention to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules which govern the trading relations between trading nations around the world, Canada accused China of "distorting global trade" by exporting EVs at "unfairly low prices" and imposed its draconian tariffs.
China did not respond with tariffs of its own until March, 2025. On March 8, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced that China's State Council Tariff Commission had conducted an anti-discrimination investigation regarding trade relations with Canada. As a consequence of its investigation, it would impose a 100 per cent tariff on Canadian canola oil and canola meal and peas, along with 25 per cent tariffs on pork, fish and seafood, as of March 20, 2025.
"Tariffs from the State Council Tariff Commission resulting from the anti-discrimination investigation are separate and distinct from China's anti-dumping investigation into imports of Canadian canola seed which is ongoing," MOFCOM pointed out.
In response, Mark Carney, in his capacity as Prime Minister of Canada, called the response by China "devastating" and issued the following statement:
"The Government of Canada is deeply disappointed by this decision, which will hurt Canadian farmers, harvesters and businesses, and will raise prices and diminish choice for Chinese customers, as well as in the agriculture, fish and seafood, retail, restaurant, and food-preparation industries."
No mention whatsoever that it is Canada which has been waging a trade war with China. This is despite the fact that China is Canada's second largest trading partner after the U.S. and that Carney says he will turn Canada towards Asia and Europe to end dependency on the U.S.[1]
"We
want to diversify with like-minded partners. That's why I went to
Europe...There are partners in Asia that we can build deeper ties
[with]," Carney has said, adding that this refers to countries that
"share our values."
"There are partners in Asia that we can build deeper ties [with] ... but the partners in Asia that share our values don't include China," Carney said at a press conference when asked about comments of China's representative to Canada about boosting trade.
The facts on the ground, not coloured by the anti-China vitriol of the government, establishment media, cartel parties, political police and conspiracy theorists, reveal what these values are and who they serve. When looking at these facts it is also clear that the problems Canadian farmers face are not created by China.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) presented the facts in a non-inflammatory way in a March 24 statement. The NFU explained that the measures taken by the Chinese government were in fact quite selective, and were leveled not against canola seed, but processed canola oil and meal.[2]
"Headlines about China's tariff on canola are raising alarm and concern among farmers. Many popular and influential media stories imply this tariff applies to all canola, when in fact it affects only China's imports of canola oil and meal, not their canola seed imports. These stories highlight the tariff rate (100 per cent), but not the fact that it would affect only the portion of total canola produced which is crushed for export to China," the NFU pointed out.
Speaking concretely about the effect of these tariffs on Canadian farmers, the NFU explained further:
"When farmers sell canola at the elevator, they are paid for the bulk commodity: it is the processor that sells the crush products -- oil and meal -- and the end-user would pay the tariff or else buy an alternative product."
"In contrast, the USA is threatening a 25 per cent tariff on all imports -- including canola oil, meal and seed. This would affect over $5.6 billion worth of canola oil sourced from Canada in 2024, exponentially higher than China's $20 million-worth. Similarly, in 2024, U.S. imports of Canadian canola meal were $1.8 billion, about twice the value of China's $CDN 918 million."
"The USA, unprovoked by Canada, and supposedly a partner in the CUSMA trade agreements, is threatening to put a 25 per cent tariff on all of the Canadian canola it imports – seed, oil and meal– effective April 2, 2025. The total value of canola seed, oil and meal exported to the USA in 2024 was $7.7 billion, including just $237 million worth of bulk commodity canola. The tariff on that amount of sales would add $1.925 billion to U.S. tax revenues (paid by the importer) – more than double the value of China's retaliatory tariffs."
In the face of these facts, Canada's hostile approach to trade with China makes Canadian farmers even more reliant on the U.S. market and whims of the Trump administration. Canada's selective adherence to the WTO rules governing trade when it comes to China, let alone its rejection of norms which would favour a sovereign Canada by conducting trade for mutual benefit, are also indicative of the "values" Canada says it espouses.
"In 2024 the total value of Canada's canola oil and meal exports to China was $938 million," the NFU's article pointed out. "China is willing to negotiate removal or reduction of its tariff. However, while this tariff on oil and meal is in effect, China will likely find other sources for these products, such as Australia, or possibly import more Canadian bulk canola to crush," the NFU adds.
Canola
is now the largest cash crop for Canadian farmers. Ownership of
processing facilities and elevators is highly concentrated in
supranational monopolies which operate as cartels and coalitions to
achieve narrow private aims. It means they use their power to depress
prices paid to the
farmers. Governments intervene to serve these oligopolies, not Canadian
farmers.
The NFU points out that "six multinational corporations, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus, Richardson, ADM, Bunge and Viterra, own Canada's canola crushing facilities, and four of them -- Cargill, Richardson, Bunge and Viterra also buy canola from farmers at the country elevator."
"The biggest impact on farmers of the Chinese tariff situation may not be lost sales to China, but increased profiteering by the vertically integrated grain and oilseed processing multinationals. Alarmist news stories over China's retaliatory tariffs can easily be used to excuse low prices," the NFU concludes.
The example of how a Carney government will pursue trade with China shows that his talk about diversifying trade is very self-serving. Canada requires a self-reliant economy which carries out trade for mutual benefit.
Far
from permitting the Canadian ruling class to manoeuvre a Carney
majority government and declare it has a mandate from the people of
Canada, Canadians deserve the "thoughtful" leadership not of a Mark
Carney who acts on behalf of supranational oligopolies, but the
reasoned arguments of the
likes of the National Farmer's Union which addresses the concrete
situation farmers live and proposes solutions. At no time does it
represent the demands of the oligopolies which have long since seized
Canada's state power.
Note
1. China is Canada's second-largest trading partner and a major investor in Canada's resource industries. Canada exported approximately $29.8 billion worth of goods to China and imported goods worth around $87.6 billion in 2024.
Agricultural products include canola, wheat, barley, peas, pork from the prairies and seafood from BC and Nova Scotia. Along with other meat products including chicken feet, together these account for more than 20 per cent of all exports to China. Coal and crude oil make up around 13 per cent of exports followed by ores, including gold, and wood pulp.
Agricultural products total $6.5 billion; followed by coal and crude oil and products at $4 billion; ores, slag and ash at $3.7 billion, and wood pulp and paper at $2.3 billion.
Manufactured products comprise the largest category of goods Canada imports from China. Canada's largest imports from China are electrical and electronic equipment including computers, followed by machinery, with vehicle parts and accessories third in 2024. Significant imports include footwear, toys, games, sporting goods, telephones, computers, furniture, lighting signs, and prefabricated buildings.
2. "A tale of two canola tariffs: China's tariffs are on a small portion of Canada's canola production," National Farmers Union.
Beware of Liberal Illusions
Q&A with Roland Verrier
This Q & A appeared in the Tri-Cities Dispatch which encompasses Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore, and Belcarra.
U.S. Relations
Canada-U.S. trade relations have become increasingly
tense. The new Trump administration has threatened our sovereignty and
initiated a trade war impacting Canadian jobs, manufacturing,
agriculture, and energy exports.
Amid U.S. nationalist and protectionist policies, should Canada be trying to repair its relationship with our southern neighbour?
Canada should be developing trade with countries across the globe who genuinely want to establish trade relations that are for mutual benefit -- not for oligarchs in one country dominating the other as has been the case with the United States.
What steps should Canada take to protect its economy?
Central to that aim is taking control of, and further developing, our economy -- an economy that meets the needs of everyone rather than filling the pockets of transnational corporations. In short, stop paying the rich. Canada's resources belong to the Canadian people.
Affordability and Cost of Living
Inflation has moderated but remains a significant concern. Many Canadians are struggling with stagnant wages, rising rents, and the high cost of essentials like groceries and fuel. Food bank use has hit record highs.
What is your plan to address the rising cost of living, especially housing, groceries, and transportation, which continue to outpace wages for many Canadians?
Food security, housing, transportation and much more are necessities of life -- basic human rights in a modern society -- rights that governments have failed to uphold. Everyone should have access to a livable income, decent wages and working conditions -- enough for a good quality of life.
How will your policies ensure long-term affordability, rather than short-term relief?
Do you believe price-fixing is a systemic issue? If so, how should it be addressed?
The wealth created from our economy should be used to meet the needs of Canadians, not to line the pockets of the rich. The focus should be on developing and maintaining livable incomes and accessible public services while ensuring the rights of workers.
Housing Crisis
Canada faces a severe housing shortage, particularly in major cities. CMHC estimates the country needs over 3.5 million new homes by 2030 to restore affordability. Homelessness is rising, and many young Canadians are locked out of the housing market.
What specific measures will you take to increase the supply of affordable housing?
How will you address homelessness and ensure vulnerable populations have access to secure housing?
Stop giving more and more dollars to land speculators and real estate developers whose sole goal is to make as much money as possible. Instead, governments should build affordable housing that is accessible to everyone while at the same time putting direct investment into social housing.
Climate Change and Energy Transition
Canada is not currently on track to meet its 2030 emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement. Extreme weather events like wildfires and floods are becoming more frequent, and many governments are transitioning away from fossil fuels to clean energy.
How should Canada balance priorities regarding its natural resources and climate policy?
What are your party's concrete targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions between now and 2030, and how will you ensure accountability?
We should utilize the expertise of industrial workers, scientists, researchers and, importantly, Indigenous Peoples, to determine the steps that are needed to ensure that any resource extraction, logging, mining, etc. is undertaken in a way that ensures protection of the environment, replanting trees etc., while at the same time, meeting the needs of community members.
Health Care
Health systems across provinces are under pressure. Staffing shortages, long ER wait times, and limited access to family doctors are widespread.
How will you address the shortage of family doctors and long wait times in emergency rooms across the country?
Make post-secondary education accessible to everyone who has the interest and capacity to train to become a doctor. And not only doctors -- nurses, social workers, and more. Expand accessibility for those with foreign training.
Do you support expanding public health care to include dental care, pharmacare, and mental health services? If so, how will it be funded and implemented?
Health care is a basic right and should be accessible to everyone. It should be a public service that excludes any privatization or for-profit health care and is implemented via either work-based or government-based programs. And it goes beyond health care. There should be no privatization of any social programs or public institutions.
Indigenous Reconciliation
Progress on the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action and the MMIWG Inquiry's
Calls for Justice has been slow.
What steps should be taken regarding the TRC's Calls to Action and the MMIWG Inquiry's Calls for Justice?
Implementation, under the leadership and direction of Indigenous nations and communities, should begin without delay and continue until the calls for action are fully implemented.
How will you approach equitable access to clean water, health care, housing, and education in Indigenous communities?
Reparations must be paid for crimes past and present via nation-to-nation processes. Hold governments to account for the climate crisis, pollution and destruction of natural habitats. And recognize the final say of Indigenous Peoples on unceded territories.
Economic Inequality and Tax Reform
Wealth inequality is growing in Canada. The wealthiest Canadians have seen major gains, while lower- and middle-income households face stagnating or declining real incomes. Corporate profits remain high, yet some large companies pay minimal tax.
Do you support changes to Canada's tax system? If so, what specific reforms do you propose?
How would you reduce income inequality?
The wealth that is created by workers in both the public and private sectors should go toward the betterment of society as a whole, not toward corporate profits for private interests. And, yes, there should be a significant corporate tax to support education, health care, etc. Monopolies and transnational corporations extract profits from the labour of workers and should provide the funds for the well-being of these workers.
Technology, Misinformation and AI
The rise of artificial intelligence and digital misinformation threatens public trust, job security, and democratic institutions. Canada has yet to pass comprehensive legislation to regulate AI and social media algorithms.
How will your government address the growing influence of misinformation, particularly regarding discourse on U.S. tech platforms?
What safeguards will you put in place regarding the development and use of AI in Canada, including impacts on jobs, privacy, and ethics?
While it is important to engage experts in this area to develop safeguards in terms of the use of AI and social media algorithms, it is also critical that any mechanisms and/or legislation do not interfere with the human right to conscience, speech, assembly and to organize.
Democratic Reform
Many Canadians feel alienated
from federal politics. The 2015 Liberal promise of electoral reform was
abandoned. Concerns over transparency, lobbying, and accountability
continue to erode trust.
Do you support electoral reform to move away from the first-past-the-post system? Why or why not?
The MLPC stands firmly for the renewal of the political process including ending the first-past-the-post system; having the people, not private political parties select candidates; funding the process (not parties) so every candidate's voice is heard and can be considered by the electorate: a government by the people, not by political parties.
What will you do to restore public trust in government institutions and political transparency?
Among other measures, we suggest electing a Constituent Assembly to propose a modern constitution that is put forward for a national referendum. Let members of Parliament form the government rather than the cartel party system. Create a free and equal union of Canada, Quebec, Inuit, Indigenous Peoples and the Métis Nation.
Immigration
Canada has ambitious immigration targets, but there's growing concern about whether infrastructure -- especially housing, transit, and social services -- can keep pace.
What is your plan for balancing immigration with infrastructure and housing capacity, particularly in high-demand cities?
Canada is a country of immigrants, with the exception of the Indigenous Peoples whose home it has been from time immemorial. It is the ongoing schemes to privatize everything and line the pockets of the rich oligarchs that is the source of the lack of infrastructure for all residents of Canada, not immigrants. Immigrants continue to make a significant contribution to our country.
Should Canada's immigration targets be adjusted?
There should be permanent residency and open work permits for migrant workers and international students, ending deportation of undocumented workers; and full rights and benefits for all workers. Together we can defend the dignity of all workers and build the kind of country where the voice of the population is not only heard but determines the direction of our economy and our lives.
Crime and Public Safety
Concerns about violent crime, organized crime, gun violence, and safety in public spaces have increased in many communities. At the same time, experts emphasize the need for evidence-based approaches that focus on prevention, mental health supports, and root causes. There's also ongoing debate about bail reform, policing budgets, and systemic inequities in the justice system.
What is your plan to address crime and improve public safety, particularly in urban settings?
How will your approach balance enforcement with investments in mental health, addiction treatment, housing, and poverty reduction as part of a long-term strategy for safer communities?
Addressing crime, improving public safety, etc. must involve tackling the underlying reason for the crime and unsafe behaviour -- often lack of income, mental health challenges, and limited or no access to needed health and related services. Tackling underlying causes will limit the development of future crime and assist in the rehabilitation of those already caught up in a cycle of crime.
Toxic Drug Crisis and Public Health Response
Canada's toxic drug crisis continues to worsen, with more than 50,000 deaths since 2016, driven largely by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The crisis affects people across age groups, income levels, and regions, and is closely tied to mental health, poverty, and homelessness. Provinces and cities are calling for stronger federal leadership on harm reduction, treatment, and decriminalization.
What is your plan to address the toxic drug crisis?
Will your party support harm reduction measures such as safe supply programs, supervised consumption sites, and decriminalization of drug possession?
Harm reduction measures are a critical component of addressing the toxic drug crisis and should be available to all those in need of such support. At the same time, we have an obligation as a society to provide for the basic needs of everyone.
How will you expand access to addiction treatment, mental health care, and long-term support to prevent overdose deaths and help people recover?
Supports must include accessible addiction treatment, mental health care and long-term supports that are available when you need them -- not months or years later. And long-term support must include housing, a decent income, health care, education, etc. This foundation is necessary for a good quality of life to maintain recovery.
Is there an issue you plan to address that is not part of your party's platform?
Why should Canadians vote for you?
In addition to my responses above, the MLPC seeks to make
Canada a zone for peace with trade for mutual benefit and oppose phony
pretexts to interfere with other countries. We oppose violence as a way
to sort out problems and oppose Canada's integration into U.S. Homeland
Security, war machine and
wars of aggression. We believe Canada should get out of both NATO and
NORAD. And we stand with Palestine and call for an end to U.S./Israeli
genocide.
In short, the foundation of the Marxist-Leninist Party platform is for democratic renewal and the development of a modern Canada that defends the rights of all and humanizes both the natural and social environment. We want to work with everyone to bring this about.
(Tri-Cities Dispatch, April 23, 2025)
(To access articles individually click on the black headline.)
Website: www.cpcml.ca • Email: editor@cpcml.ca