On Wednesday January 29, our government passed the Ways and Means motion, a critical step in the ratification of the new NAFTA. Businesses and industries across Canada rely on free trade agreements like the new NAFTA to grow their customer base, ensuring that their products and services are available at competitive pricing in all three countries.

By reaching more consumers and building more profits, Canadian businesses are then able to create jobs, build stronger communities, and grow our economy.

For Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ontario, they will also benefit from the new NAFTA. This new chapter is designed to increase trade and investment opportunities specifically for SMEs, giving them more potential to grow and expand abroad, and create more jobs at home.

The chapter also encourages all three countries to collaborate on activities to support commercial opportunities for SMEs owned by under-represented groups, including women and Indigenous peoples.

As for the autoworkers in Ontario, the new NAFTA means job security for the thousands of autoworkers who depend on trade with our North American partners to support their jobs, their communities, and their families. The new NAFTA will preserve crucial cross-border auto supply chains, provides an incentive to produce vehicles in Canada, and significantly improves wages and labour rights for in all three countries. We got a good deal for Ontarians and we got a good deal for Canada.

Quotes

“ Throughout the negotiations, our objective was to defend the national interest, preserve jobs, and foster economic growth across the country. We worked tirelessly to uphold Canadians’ interest and values, and achieve a consensus on issues that are important to all Canadians.”

– Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

“ Over the past years, I’ve had many conversations with Brampton business owners, workers and constituents about the importance of a modernized NAFTA that keeps our economy strong, secures millions of jobs, and creates more opportunities for Canadian businesses. The new CUSMA deal accomplishes just that and I look forward to voting in favour of it along with my colleagues in the coming days.”

– Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton-South