Red Deer MP commits referendum vote to staying in Canada, and laments trade war

“I’m supportive of the referendum, but I am voting to stay in Canada.”

Bailey was asked what the biggest flaws are of the separatist argument, and he remarked that there are “a whole bunch of things.”

“There’s a lot of misinformation out there. I don’t think people really realize what we’re asking when we talk about [separation, in terms of] money, passports, Canada Pension Plan, the length of time, the trade problems. The list goes on and on,” he said.

“Let’s be clear, there’s only been referendums when there’s been a Liberal government. I believe if there was a Conservative government right now, we wouldn’t have this problem.”

When it comes to the angst he’s hearing from people, Bailey believes the trade war is contributing more at the moment.

“Here in the Prairie provinces, these tariffs, I would say, are the scariest thing for any business right now. The referendum is going to happen, and it’ll move forward from there, but more immediately, we need a trade deal,” Bailey said.

“I want Parliament to be reconvened. I don’t want [Prime Minister Mark] Carney in Europe doing meetings. I think our committees should be discussing this, and we need to work together as MPs and Canadians to come up with solutions because there are solutions out there.

“We need to speak as Parliament, and we need to have a vote on what our next steps are.”

Reflecting on what PM Carney did two weeks ago, walking away from the table, and the subsequent response from politicians across the board, including his party leader Pierre Poilievre, Bailey said Canadians need to see something in writing about what went on during negotiations.

“All I’ve heard is either American news or Canadian news, and as a Parliamentarian, I’m sorry, I expect a report, something in writing from [Internal Trade Minister] Dominic LeBlanc. I want to see exactly what caused them to walk away in the final hour — not just hearsay,” he said, then reflecting on the whims of U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Quite honestly, I have a sick feeling in my stomach because I know what this is going to do to the Canadian economy. This cannot drag on. The referendum vote is one thing, but these trade talks are exacerbating the whole problem.”

Carney pushed back today against claims from senior officials in the Trump administration that it was the Canadian side which tanked negotiations at the 11th hour, according to reporting from The Canadian Press.

He said, “I don’t think, with all respect, appointed, unelected cabinet members in the United States are experts on Canadian politics.

Canadian counter-tariffs are scheduled to come into force Tuesday, Oct. 8.

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by Josh Hall

Red Deer MP commits referendum vote to staying in Canada, and laments trade war

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