CUTE SOCKS WON'T WIN THE DEAL?

The Liberal-dominated House of Commons trade committee has quashed a move to invite the prime minister and other high-ranking cabinet members to answer questions about Canada’s NAFTA renegotiation priorities, as calls continue for more transparency about how the government plans to handle upcoming talks on the deal

Andrew Leslie, an Ottawa-area Liberal MP who is parliamentary secretary to the foreign affairs minister, said  that the government has already announced its broad goals with NAFTA, which include modernizing the agreement and creating “win-win-win conditions” for the member countries.

“It is illogical to unmask and to lay down detailed objectives when we don’t have to,” Leslie said. “That’s giving up a negotiating advantage.”