Liberals tap Rona Ambrose for new NAFTA advisory council
Ambrose is one of 13 members of a newly created advisory council which includes other former Conservative ministers as well as NDP strategists
Published Aug 02, 2017
???
Last updated Aug 02, 2017
???
3 minute read
You can save this article by registering for free
here
. Or
sign-in
if you have an account.
Article content
OTTAWA ? While Liberals and Conservatives trade accusations that they’re hurting Canada’s position in the imminent renegotiation of NAFTA, the Trudeau government has tapped the Tories’ former interim leader, Rona Ambrose, to help advise on the trilateral trade deal.
Ambrose is one of 13 members of a newly created advisory council on the North American Free Trade Agreement, announced Wednesday by Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS
Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.
- Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
- Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES
Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.
- Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
- Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Don't have an account?
Create Account
or
Article content
Other members include James Moore, a former minister in the previous Conservative government, and Brian Topp, a veteran NDP strategist, one-time NDP leadership contender and former chief of staff to Alberta’s NDP premier, Rachel Notley.
The membership is designed to demonstrate that the government is taking a unified, non-partisan, Team Canada approach to the negotiations, which are set to start Aug. 16.
The council also includes representatives of various groups that have the most at stake in the negotiations, among them, Canadian Labour Congress president Hassan Yussuff; Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of automotive parts manufacturer Linamar Corp., and Marcel Groleau, president of Quebec’s union of agricultural producers.
Freeland also announced Wednesday the appointment of one of Canada’s foremost trade experts, Kirsten Hillman, as deputy ambassador to the United States, and three new trade-savvy consuls general to be located in Atlanta, Seattle and San Francisco.
“With the expansion of our consular presence in the United States and the creation of the NAFTA council, we are furthering Canada’s determination to promote Canadian interests and values in our bilateral relations with our main economic partner,” Freeland said in a written statement.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of First Reading will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Other members of the council include Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Annette Verschuren, former president of Home Depot, and Phyllis Yaffe, former chair of Cineplex Entertainment and CEO of Alliance Atlantis who is currently serving as Canada’s consul general in New York City.
The inclusion of Ambrose, who retired from politics in May, comes amid a squabble between Liberals and Conservatives over which party has done the most damage to Canada’s position in the U.S. just as NAFTA negotiations are about to begin.
The Liberals have accused the Tories of undermining Canada by savaging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the American media over his decision to compensate Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen who was imprisoned and tortured at the notorious U.S. detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, after allegedly killing an American soldier during a firefight in Afghanistan when he was just 15 years old.
Trudeau himself has chided the Conservatives for campaigning in the U.S. against the Khadr payment.
“When I deal with the United States, I leave the domestic squabbles at home. Other parties don’t seem to have that rule, but I think it’s one Canadians appreciate,” he said last month.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Newly minted Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has scoffed at suggestions the cross-border anti-Khadr campaign will rile Americans against Canada just as NAFTA talks get underway.
And the Tories have, in turn, accused Trudeau of hurting Canada’s position by giving an interview to Rolling Stone magazine, which featured a cover photo of the prime minister last week with the caption “Why can’t he be our president?” Conservatives have said the article amounts to poking mercurial President Donald Trump in the eye.
“Why does 1/8Mr. Trudeau3/8 need to do this right now, when it does put in danger the direction and the commencement of these negotiations?” deputy Conservative leader Lisa Raitt told the Globe and Mail.
The Prime Minister’s Office has called that accusation “absurd.”
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark
nationalpost.com
and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading,
here
.
Share this article in your social network