‘Gone on far too long’: Red Deer MP Burton Bailey weighs in on Canada-U.S. trade negotiations

“I think [trade negotiations] have gone on far too long and it’s hurt businesses right here in Red Deer,” Bailey told rdnewsNOW. “We actually had a panel discussion where we brought local businesses together just to speak about trade. It’s crippling some industries.”

Bailey explained that when Trump announced the new tariffs, he said it has affected our honey farmers, greenhouses, the farming industry as a whole, and oil and gas.

He said a lot is at stake in these trade negotiations and hopes that whatever deal the two sides reach, Red Deer benefits.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Canada’s chief negotiator Janice Charette are meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington today.

The tariffs were originally set to come into effect just after midnight Wednesday, but that deadline was pushed back until Saturday to allow time to reach a deal.

LeBlanc told reporters on Thursday that the two sides were “very close” to a deal.

Bailey is hopeful but isn’t confident in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s ability to get a fair deal for Canada.

Bailey said he was hopeful that Canada and the U.S. would reach a deal when the president first implemented tariffs on Canada at the beginning of 2025.

Since then, he said the tariffs have impacted businesses across central Alberta, especially canola farmers.

He added that businesses in Red Deer can’t compete because of the way they’re taxed and the tariffs put in place.

“This is really important for Canada that this deal is done and I just hope that Carney gets a fair deal,” Bailey said.

“I think it was a mistake not making an agreement a year ago. Prolonging it, thinking they were going to get some better deal was a mistake. I can’t comment until I see what the result is, but we need to be able to trade with the United States. I have friends that deal in metals and forestry, and they have all been crippled.”

He said industries are shutting down and alleged that over 60 mills have closed in Canada this year alone because of the tariffs. He also said some businesses are already moving equipment out of Red Deer and down to the U.S.

“The softwood lumber industry has been decimated, and that is all because of the tariffs. We have a lot of dairy farming here in Canada. Does that mean supply management’s going to be shut down? All of these things are going to be unveiled and are going to have a lot of an effect on Red Deer,” he said.

“Hopefully it will create some normalcy, and some businesses will begin investing again right here in central Alberta.”

-With files from The Canadian Press

by Ian Gustafson

‘Gone on far too long’: Red Deer MP Burton Bailey weighs in on Canada-U.S. trade negotiations

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