Conservatives faced a barrage of partisan fire Friday in the House of Commons as their political rivals accused the official Opposition of trying to stall measures aimed at helping Ukraine.
The heated exchange in the House followed a motion introduced by the Tories that prevented MPs from considering a bill aimed at modernizing Canada害羞草研究所檚 free trade agreement with Ukraine, known as CUFTA.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress sent a letter to Pierre Poilievre expressing their disappointment in the Conservative leader and asking him to support the legislation.
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害羞草研究所淯kraine needs assistance in strengthening economic resilience,害羞草研究所� wrote Alexandra Chyczji, the group害羞草研究所檚 national president. 害羞草研究所淯kraine害羞草研究所檚 government has stressed that the modernization of CUFTA would play an important role in this regard.害羞草研究所�
The Liberals have also framed the agreement as an opportunity to help boost the economic prospects for Ukraine as it navigates the consequences of its protracted and bloody war with Russia.
The Tories have repeatedly voiced public support for Ukraine, including during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy害羞草研究所檚 visit to Canada in September. But last week, Conservative MPs opposed a bill that would have updated the trade deal signed during Zelenskyy害羞草研究所檚 visit.
Conservatives say they oppose the legislation because they believe it will 害羞草研究所減romote carbon pricing害羞草研究所� in both countries, an accusation the Liberals described Friday as a red herring.Both Canada and Ukraine already have their own carbon pricing plans.
害羞草研究所淲e support Ukraine, that害羞草研究所檚 why we害羞草研究所檙e going to send them arms and not (a) carbon tax,害羞草研究所� said Ontario Conservative MP Philip Lawrence.
The bill passed through the committee stage earlier this week with the support of other parties, and the House was supposed to consider the committee report Friday so the bill could move to the final stage of debate.
But before that could happen, Conservatives introduced a motion to debate an 18-month-old report on Canada害羞草研究所檚 food security, which the Liberals said was enough to prevent debate on the free trade agreement.
害羞草研究所淭heir excuse for opposing the bill has proven to be false. They know it, we know it, and the Ukrainians themselves have said Poilievre has his facts wrong,害羞草研究所� government House leader Karina Gould said in a statement.
害羞草研究所淲hy are the Conservatives so determined to stop this legislation? Is it because the right-wing conservativism spreading through America has now found its way into Poilievre害羞草研究所檚 party?害羞草研究所�
Support for Ukraine has long been strong on Capitol Hill. But thanks in part to the uniquely divisive dynamics of Congress, the persistent flow of U.S. military and government aid is falling out of favour with some Republican lawmakers, as well as some Americans.
Conservative spokesman Sebastian Skamski denied Friday that Tory MPs are intentionally obstructing debate on the trade agreement, insisting instead that they continue to stand with Ukraine.
Instead, Skamski said, it害羞草研究所檚 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his 害羞草研究所渙ut-of-touch Liberals害羞草研究所� who think 害羞草研究所渁ddressing the runaway cost of food after eight years of their government shouldn害羞草研究所檛 be a priority for Parliament.害羞草研究所�
Conservative MPs would be happy to sit down with the UCC and dispel what Skamski described as false claims the Liberals are using to try to sow division, he added.
The NDP and Bloc Qu茅b茅cois joined with the Liberals in accusing the Tories of slow-walking the legislation.
害羞草研究所淭he reply from the Conservatives has been now to block fully the legislation before this house, to block any attempt to provide support to Ukraine,害羞草研究所� said NDP House leader Peter Julian.
The fact that they would prefer to talk about a report that害羞草研究所檚 nearly two years old makes clear they have a hidden motive, added Bloc Qu茅b茅cois MP Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagn茅.
害羞草研究所� With files from The Associated Press
Mickey Djuric, The Canadian Press
