THE Irish and Canadian governments should cash in on Brexit and Donald Trump’s US presidency by encouraging people and businesses to relocate to their countries, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has said.
After talks with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Dublin yesterday Trudeau said migration should be seen as a positive.
“There are tremendous opportunities for countries like Canada and Ireland at a time where perhaps our significant allies and trading partners, in the case of the UK and US, are turning inward or at least turning in a different direction, to make the pitch that Canada and Ireland are places that are exciting and open to the world in a positive, progressive way,” Trudeau said.
Trade issues were high on the agenda when Trudeau and Varadkar met in Farmleigh House in Dublin, with the CETA agreement between the Europe Union and Canada a key focus.
The deal, which has yet to be ratified by national parliaments, took seven years to negotiate. But it has controversial clauses, including concerns about giving companies the right to sue governments and questions about workers’ rights.
Varadkar said the CETA deal is progressive and not just about big business, citing its focus on environmental protections. “I understand that there are concerns,” the Taoiseach said. “People always have concerns about free trade agreements. But there are many more benefits for our country and our people, our economy than there are downsides. It’s not just an agreement for big business.
It’s also an agreement for small business, for workers and has huge potential for Ireland.”
Trudeau has several other engagements in Dublin including a business lunch and a visit to see the Famine memorial statues in the city centre and a dinner hosted by the Taoiseach.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here