Harper's White House Visit Yields No Results, Says Ignatieff

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff lambasted Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to the White House, stating that the Conservative government achieved virtually nothing on its major concern: the Buy America procurement policies that have sparked an outcry among Canadian companies. Ignatieff criticized Harper for echoing President Barack Obama's rosy response to the issue, while failing to mount an adequate lobbying effort in the U.S. to ward off protectionism. The Liberal leader emphasized the importance of the relationship between Canada and the U.S. and argued that Canada should have been working intensively with the U.S. Congress, American business interests, and state and local governments to raise concerns about Buy America.

Key Takeaways:

• The Buy America procurement policy, which excludes Canadian suppliers from $860 billion worth of U.S.-government funded projects, is a major concern for Canadian companies and has caused unemployment to rise in Ontario cities like Toronto, where it stands at 10 or 11%.
• The Conservative government has underestimated the seriousness of the Buy America issue, failing to comprehend its impact on Canadian jobs and the economy.
• Harper's response to the issue, echoing Obama's statement that it is a minor irritant, was seen as inadequate, with Ignatieff calling it "amateur hour" on Canadian-U.S. relations.
• Ignatieff emphasized the need for a full-court press to exert influence in the U.S. to raise Ottawa's concerns about Buy America, including working with the U.S. Congress, American business interests, and state and local governments.
• The Liberal leader criticized Harper's claim of a breakthrough in the dispute over Air Canada charter flights for National Hockey League teams, stating that the issue highlights the weakness of current Canada-U.S. ties.

Statistics:

• $860 billion: The value of U.S.-government funded projects that Canadian suppliers are excluded from due to the Buy America procurement policy.
• 10-11%: Unemployment rate in Toronto, Ontario, where the Buy America policy has had a significant impact.
• 42 minutes: The time it took Harper and Obama to meet and discuss the Buy America issue.

Sources:

• Ignatieff, Michael, quoted in "Ignatieff slams Harper over U.S. visit", The Canadian Press, [no date].