Liberals stand by Ukraine support, Poilievre suggests PM is 'big talker… little doer' ahead of trade vote
CTV
Federal Liberal cabinet ministers say Canada needs to continue to support Ukraine as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accuses Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday of being a 'big talker… little doer' when it comes to helping the country's war efforts.
Federal Liberal cabinet ministers say Canada needs to continue to support Ukraine as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accuses Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday of being a "big talker… little doer" when it comes to helping the country's war efforts.
Renewed conversation around Canada's backing of Ukraine comes as MPs are about to vote to pass the modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, and as a new Angus Reid survey indicates Canadians' attention is plunging as is support among Conservative voters.
"What's most important here in my opinion, is to explain to Canadians and to the world, what the reality of the situation in Ukraine is. Yes, the war is happening in Ukraine. However, it is also a war for us," Freeland said in French, speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday.
"We need to understand what the goal of Vladimir Putin is. Putin wants to change the world… wants to rewrite the rules that we have established in the world," Freeland said. "He wants a world in which it is the strongest countries with the largest armies that are able to control everyone else. This would not be a good world for Canadians."
Also speaking to reporters, Treasury Board President Anita Anand and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly—fresh back from a visit to Ukraine—said that Tuesday's vote to pass the trade deal revamp legislation to the Senate will signal to allied countries that Canada's support remains steadfast, "as long as it takes."
"We know that the Conservatives will let down Ukrainians. Poilievre has been talking a lot about, and crying about the importance of freedom, but the reality we know that he's about freedom for some and not for all," Joly said.
The Liberals have been highly critical of Poilievre's rejection of the trade bill and his stated reasoning is being concerned over carbon pricing promotion and the wording within it, despite Ukraine already having a carbon price.
