Trudeau Dismisses Softwood Lumber Tariffs And Fishing As ‘Small Issues’ on American Talk Show

September 24, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa, ON – After nine years, the NDP-Liberal Government does not care about working Canadians. This was made clear after Trudeau went on a taxpayer-funded trip to New York City to appear on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and dismissed softwood lumber tariffs and fishing rights as “minor issues.”

During the show, Colbert asked Trudeau “What do we fight over? … is it softwood lumber tariffs? Fishing rights?” Trudeau responded by saying “These are issues. But they’re always small issues.”

But softwood lumber is not a “small issue” for the tens of thousands of Canadians who now face unemployment because the Liberal Government failed to negotiate a deal on softwood lumber. Last month, the United States increased their tariffs from 8.05 percent to 14.45 percent. Trudeau had nine years and three separate presidential administrations, yet still couldn’t find a deal for Canadian workers that former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper managed to do in his first 80 days.

In fact, shortly after the United States increased softwood lumber tariffs, Canfor shut down two sawmills in British Columbia, resulting in 500 Canadian workers being made unemployed.

Similarly, fishing is not a “minor issue” for the 70,000 Canadians who depend on the fishing industry for their livelihood.

Trudeau simply doesn’t understand that Canadians don’t care about his meetings with celebrities and taxpayer-funded get-aways to New York City. Canadians need a Common Sense Conservative government that will work with the Americans to bring home powerful paycheques for workers.