Kody Blois pushed back against Conservative questions about a trade deal with the U.S.
On April 20, Kody Blois, the parliamentary secretary to the prime minister and former federal ag minister, fielded questions about the government’s work to support people in the Windsor, Ont. area.
Harb Gill and Dave Epp, the Conservative MPs for Windsor West and Chatham-Kent-Leamington, respectively, asked when Prime Minister Carney would secure a trade deal with the U.S., and said that workers and businesses are hurting in the meantime.
“When will the Prime Minister, who is avoiding his responsibility, finally secure the American trade deal that he promised last July?” Epp asked.
In response, Blois highlighted a measure in the federal budget designed to support workers and farmers in that region.
“I am wondering if (Epp) told his constituents about what was in budget 2025, where the Minister of Finance provided immediate expensing for greenhouse infrastructure in this country. We see that Leamington area as an asset for greenhouses. I have not heard the member stand up and talk about how important that is,” he told the House. “However, as much as I respect that hon. member, the Conservatives had nothing for farmers in this country. They had nothing in their platform, especially nothing for farmers in southwestern Ontario.”
On April 23, a Conservative MP wanted answers about China’s promise to remove tariffs from Canadian products.
Clifford Small, the MP for Central Newfoundland, said the government only secured tariff exemptions for two species of seafood while multiple others have tariffs attached.
“When will these Liberals secure real, lasting relief from Chinese tariffs and stop failing the Canadian seafood industry?” he asked.
International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu responded.
He reminded the House that in January the government “unlocked billions of dollars of opportunities for our agriculture and seafood sector,” and reaffirmed the government’s efforts to work with China on this file.