QUESTION PERIOD — International Trade
Trade Diversification
October 28, 2026
Government leader, all of us in this chamber understand Prime Minister Carney’s attempts to diversify trade. We definitely understand the need, especially under the precarious circumstances that we face with our biggest trading partner. However, you have to admit that the Prime Minister going to Türkiye and meeting with President Erdoğan — someone who is in competition with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, in Iran for who can violate human rights and liberties more and someone who has his political opponents in jail and journalists in jail and muzzled. There is no freedom of religion in that country whatsoever, and the treatment of the LGBTQ community is absolutely abhorrent. Yet the Prime Minister chooses to go there and give credence to one of the worst dictatorial tyrants who does not respect human rights whatsoever. In exchange for what — a case of figs or baklava more than we already have with that particular trading partner?
Will you agree that trading our soul for small benefits —
Thank you, Senator Housakos.
Senator Housakos, I’ll mention the scale of the importance of trade diversification, especially with Türkiye, but I do not agree with your figures and with what you think we will have in exchange.
The government raised human rights issues, including labour rights and freedom of expression, consistently and directly with countries around the world, including with trading partners such as Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and every other trading partner. During trade negotiations, the government seeks to promote the principle of responsible business conduct among enterprises and informed by global standards. Engaging with a diverse set of partners enables the government to advance Canadian interests but also opens the doors to frank conversations in areas where our perspectives differ. Türkiye is one example.
Whom you hang with identifies who you are when it comes to fundamental rights, and the truth of the matter is that there are consequences when you cross that line and you go too far. Over the last day and over the last few hours, we have seen the consequences already. The Prime Minister has a dream of Canada being an associate member of the EU. We saw very recently, in the last few hours, France, Germany, Italy and Greece are saying to Canada: “No thanks.”
Senator Housakos, the global economic order has changed, and it requires adaptation when it comes to our trading partners. That does not mean the government will waver on its commitment to human rights.
I repeat what I said: Every single time that we are discussing anything with trading partners, the government raises human rights issues, including labour rights and freedom of expression. Those values are dear to the Prime Minister and to all Canadians.
