Canada’s New Democrats Nouveau Parti démocratique du Canada 300–279 AVENUE LAURIER AVENUE WEST/OUEST OTTAWA, ONTARIO K1P 5J9 PHONE // TÉLÉPHONE FAX // TÉLÉCOPIEUR October 2, 2015 House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 0A6 Dear Minister Fast, As you participate in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations this week in Atlanta, I wish to advise you that an NDP government will not consider itself bound to any agreement signed by your Conservative government during this federal election. Ensuring that Canada’s interests are vigorously defended in trade negotiations is the primary responsibility of any government. This is doubly true when negotiations are continuing through an election period where the federal government is bound to limit itself to a caretaker role. It has become clear that your government’s continued negotiation in the TPP during this campaign is not in the best interests of Canadians. You have no mandate to make concessions that could put thousands of wellpaid Canadian jobs and the communities that depend on them in peril. While other governments have been up-front with their citizens and legislators about what is on the table during TPP talks, your Conservative government has kept Canadians in the dark. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians rely on work in our auto sector. Concessions given by your Conservatives government could devastate families and the communities that rely on this sector. An NDP government will not accept that. Likewise, Canada’s successful system of supply management allows small family farms to prosper and provide quality food for Canadians. Supply management is a lifeline that helps many rural communities thrive. An NDP government will not accept any deal that puts our dairy and poultry farms at risk. Equally, New Democrats will not accept changes to patent, copyright law and digital policies that risk raising the price of prescription drugs for seniors, or restricting our Internet freedoms. TOLL-FREE // SANS FRAIS 613.236.3613 613.230.9950 1 866.525.2555 ndp.ca // npd.ca These changes will impact millions of Canadians every day. Your Conservative government has not consulted Canadians on any of them, and you have no mandate to trade them away. Any commitments made now, 17 days before an election, without any consultation with the parties that may form the next government, would be clear violations of the caretaker convention to which your government is bound. Despite this, last week New Zealand’s Trade Minister said “the Canadians are negotiating as if there’s no election” – negotiations for which you have no mandate. Canadians want change. Your government forfeited a mandate to conclude negotiations on a major international trade agreement the day the election was called. New Democrats will continue to fight for trade agreements that are good for Canada, and stand foursquare against concessions that harm Canadian interests. Yours sincerely, Tom Mulcair Leader of Canada’s NDP