NANAIMO – At a press conference in Nanaimo, B.C., Green Party co-leaders Jonathan Pedneault and Elizabeth May, along with Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidate Paul Manly, outlined how Canada can emerge from the “dumbest trade war ever” with higher productivity, more employment, and a healthier, more resilient economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the Greens support retaliatory tariffs, they also recognize that a trade war will damage both economies and hurt workers on both sides of the border. To protect Canadian workers, communities, and resources, the federal government must purchase Canadian resources at the price set for current exports and divert them to Strategic Reserves held by Canadian Crown corporations. These sectors\u2014including forest products, aluminum, and potash\u2014would not be subjected to U.S. tariffs. Instead, workers will be protected, and resources will be either held in reserve as prices rise, used in Canada to best build our economy, or exported to countries that are reliable partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor too long, Canada has been known as \u2018hewers of wood and drawers of water,\u2019 reflecting the reality that for centuries, Canada has promoted unprocessed exports of everything from raw logs to unprocessed bitumen,\u201d said Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May. \u201cNow we could be described as ‘wasters of water and scrapers of bitumen.’ Productivity lags when unprocessed exports dominate over value-added industries. Unlike Sweden, where forest products are exported as furniture, Canada\u2019s economy suffers by allowing transnationals to \u2018rip and ship.\u2019 It is time to end raw resource exports.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The creation of Strategic Reserves is a non-budgetary transaction, essentially an asset-swap with negligible impact on the Government of Canada\u2019s books. Additionally, Greens propose a bond issue\u2014”Saving Canada Bonds”\u2014where Canadians can invest in securing Canada\u2019s strategic resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCanada will remain firm and united in the face of economic bullying,\u201d said Jonathan Pedneault, co-leader of the Green Party of Canada. \u201c It is high time we stopped acting like a colony and seized control of our resources for the benefit of Canada and its workers. We now have an opportunity to establish Canada as a truly independent nation and the Canada we\u2019re fighting for is one where we truly leverage the hard work of loggers, miners and resource-industry workers for the benefit of all Canadians instead of that of global transnational corporations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the press conference, the Greens detailed their plan to protect Canada\u2019s economy. Full details and Parliamentary Budget Officer costing will be included in the party\u2019s official platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur \u2018rip and ship\u2019 practices need to stop,\u201d added Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidate Paul Manly. \u201cWe\u2019re shipping raw logs into the United States when we should be processing them at home. More than ever, we need this lumber to build more affordable homes for Canadians\u2014not to mention creating made-in-Canada jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Canada faces mounting economic uncertainty, the Green Party is offering a bold, forward-thinking plan to strengthen domestic industries, protect workers, and build a self-sufficient, sustainable economy. Instead of reacting to crises with short-term fixes, Greens are committed to long-term solutions that put Canadians first\u2014ensuring that our natural resources serve the public good, not just corporate interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#####<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information or to arrange an interview : <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fabrice Lachance Nov\u00e9<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Press secretary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 514-463-0021<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n