COLUMN: On Parliament Hill – A deal is a deal – Where’s the deal?

C.S. Lewis once said, “What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing.” Standing in the middle of a leadership race, Prime Minister Carney declared, “I know the President, I’ve dealt with the President in the past in my previous roles when he was in his first term, and I know how to negotiate.” Then, during the election, Mr. Carney similarly proclaimed, “Elbows up” and “Canada Strong.” Media commentators swooned over the man touted as the one who could handle Donald Trump, as Mr. Carney claimed his minority government.

Three months after the election, and six months into negotiations for a trade deal, not only have we dropped our elbows, but we have also missed three trade deadlines— July 16, July 21, and Aug. 1. Steel and aluminum tariffs have doubled from 25 to 50 percent, copper tariffs have risen to 50 percent, and non-compliant CUSMA (Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement) automotive exports face a 50 percent tariff. Softwood lumber and other general exports outside of CUSMA are facing tariffs of 35 percent.

Not only has the Liberal government accepted higher tariffs without securing a deal, but these tariffs have now reached historic highs.

And it’s not just with the United States. While the Prime Minister struggles to secure a U.S. deal, Canada is also losing ground in other vital trade relationships. On Aug. 12, China imposed a massive 75.8 percent anti-dumping tariff on Canadian canola—effectively shutting us out of one of our largest agricultural markets. In Provencher, where canola is a cornerstone crop, this is a direct economic blow. Every dollar lost to the farmer in Niverville or the grain elevator in Letellier ripples through truckers, seed suppliers, and local small businesses. A government that cannot defend our markets abroad is failing families here at home.

Furthermore, we are in damage control with Mexico. Last year, when Prime Minister Trudeau floated the idea of pursuing a deal without Mexico, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was reportedly not amused, and relations froze. With CUSMA safeguarding 90 percent of Canada’s current exports, the decision to send two senior ministers last week was not merely an attempt to mend relations, but also a calculated effort to secure a side deal—one that could distance Canada even further from its most important trading partner, the United States. Even President Sheinbaum dismissed the idea, stating: “There was no need for a bilateral trade agreement with Canada.”

Mexico’s government has been actively pressing for U.S. tariff relief in autos and agriculture since early this year, while Canada has remained stuck reacting to higher U.S. tariffs rather than shaping outcomes. By the time our tired Trudeau-era ministers arrived in Mexico City, Ottawa was no longer setting the pace—we were trying to catch up.

Contrary to the promises made during the election, Canadians have had to keep lowering their expectations while Mr. Carney keeps moving the goalposts.

According to Brian Lilley of the Toronto Sun, Mr. Carney has not spoken to Mr. Trump since June 26—which is notable, as June 26 came before any of the three deadlines that were promised. In early August, the President was asked about his communication with Canada’s Prime Minister and replied, “I think he called me,” without confirming whether he returned the call. Mr. Carney admitted at a press conference in B.C., “I haven’t spoken to the President in recent days.” Nevertheless, the Prime Minister assures us they will speak “when it makes sense.”

So, what has the “Elbows up” philosophy delivered for Canada so far? First, there is no new deal. Second, there are even greater tariffs. Third, there are no wins for Canadian workers. Finally, we continue to have our development blocked by the same old Trudeau-era Liberal laws.

The Liberals may downplay the fact that having no immediate deal is “no big deal,” but to the many Canadians most impacted, it is a very big deal indeed.

In just three months, Canada has lost almost $50 billion in investment—money that has fled the country. This is in addition to the $500 billion lost during the first three terms of Liberal governance. In July, 40,800 jobs were lost, according to Reuters, due to tariffs “denting hiring plans.” Further layoffs are anticipated—potentially another 140,000 jobs in the months ahead. These delays are not abstract; they are causing tangible and immediate harm.

We must ask whether we have capitalized on any of the concessions made to date. For example, when the President threatened to end talks with Canada if the digital services tax (DST) wasn’t scrapped, Mr. Carney gave in — with no clear advantage in return.

Other factors are also at play. The National Post reports that Americans want Mr. Carney to loosen Liberal social objectives such as DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) rules as they apply to American companies operating in Canada.

Sources further suggest that Mr. Trump could be applying pressure regarding the Keystone XL pipeline. If so, this would be problematic. The Prime Minister’s focus on environmental goals over fossil fuel production is described by some as a “radical progressivism”. If Carney got rid of net-zero targets and environmental impediments,” one source said, “I think there’d be a massive love-in.”

Still, other opinions are worth noting. American Ambassador Peter Hoekstra said on CBC, when asked why Canada wasn’t getting a deal like Mexico, “The Americans don’t think we are negotiating seriously.”

Mr. Carney needs to grasp how serious these negotiations are by adopting a calm, reasoned, and measured approach—and by putting Canada’s national interest first.

The bottom line is that while Canada has missed every trade deadline, one after the other, Mr. Carney now says securing a deal is not as big a deal—all while other countries like the EU, Japan, the UK, the Philippines, and Indonesia are announcing their deals with the U.S.

Despite the numerous failures in the Liberals’ trade agenda, Mr. Carney has awarded himself another vacation. Where is Canada’s deal, Mr. Carney?