THE WEST BLOCK
Episode 33, Season 13
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Host: Mercedes Stephenson
Visitors:
François-Philippe Champagne, Innovation, Science and Trade Minister
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian Opposition Chief
Location:
Ottawa Studio
Mercedes Stephenson: Shopping for important, like groceries, is turning into more and more out of attain for a lot of Canadians. Ottawa stated they’ve a plan, so the place are the outcomes?
I’m Mercedes Stephenson. The West Block begins now.
François-Philippe Champagne, Innovation, Science and Trade Minister: “The auto employees of Honda make us win, and immediately it’s their massive victory.”
Mercedes Stephenson: Scorching off a giant electrical car announcement, the trade minister joins us to speak practicality and progress. From the electrification required to drive EVs in Canadian winters to an replace after all of the powerful discuss taking over massive grocery. The place are the outcomes for Canadians?
And as Ukraine receives its newest American support bundle to assist fend off Russia, the neighbouring nation of Belarus is strengthening its ties to Vladimir Putin. I converse with the Belarusian opposition chief on her very private battle.
The price of residing is on the minds of thousands and thousands of Canadians, and some of the painful and unavoidable prices is buying on the grocery retailer.
Earlier this yr, the federal authorities introduced it was committing $5 million a yr to assist examine rising grocery costs. Months earlier than that, the trade minister instructed The West Block…
François-Philippe Champagne, Innovation, Science and Trade Minister: “I’m beginning to make calls to some CEOs world wide and say, ‘Hey, have you ever checked out Canada recently?’ It’s a part of the variety of issues that I’m making an attempt to do. Like I say, on day 4, we’re removed from saying it’s accomplished. We’re saying this can be a battle.”
Mercedes Stephenson: The place is he in that battle greater than seven months later?
We caught up with the minister as he introduced an historic automotive deal for this nation. Honda will make investments $15 billion to create 4 new electrical car vegetation on Ontario.
François-Philippe Champagne, Innovation, Science and Trade Minister: “That is extra than simply in regards to the auto sector. That is about Canada punching above its weight.”
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Trade joined me after his announcement in Alliston, Ontario.
Thanks a lot for making time. I do know you’ve acquired a busy morning there, minister, and a giant announcement for the federal government with this large funding from Honda: electrical batteries. Everyone seems to be hoping, in fact, that we are able to transfer ahead and do issues which can be higher for the setting. However one of many questions is whether or not Canada is prepared for this variety of electrical autos and electrical batteries: the grid system that helps that, the variety of chargers. Rural areas nonetheless not the extent of funding that basically makes this attainable for lots of Canadians. Is your authorities planning to place extra into that in order that these autos you’re constructing and the batteries you’re constructing will be absorbed into the market?
François-Philippe Champagne, Innovation, Science and Trade Minister: Properly positive, and let’s rejoice as Canadians immediately. I imply you’ve seen immediately the most important single funding within the auto trade within the nation historical past, the most important funding of greater than 75 years historical past. I imply, hear it’s sending a sign to the world that now we have the perfect employee on this planet, that the place to take a position is in Canada as a result of now now we have the total provide chain with regards to battery, electrical car[s]. Actually, immediately is known as a recreation changer. We’re speaking about 240 thousand electrical autos which can be going to come back from the vegetation that we’re speaking about. We’re speaking of 4 vegetation in actuality on this announcement immediately. So that is actually a day for Canadians to rejoice. We’re actually—we’re actually punching above our weight. The world is noticing and Canada is turning into, actually, this hub for inexperienced manufacturing.
Mercedes Stephenson: I feel there’s no query it’s a giant win to have this type of funding in Canada from a really respected firm, however I don’t suppose it solutions the query of whether or not or not your authorities is doing sufficient to impress Canada so that individuals will realistically be capable of drive these autos.
François-Philippe Champagne, Innovation, Science and Trade Minister: Properly we’re going to do extra, and that is nice as a result of when you have got an funding like that that’s type of a catalyst. I feel everybody is aware of that the ultimate vacation spot is electrical car[s] and now you’re seeing Honda tripling down. It’s not even doubling down. I bear in mind speaking to the chairman of Honda in Tokyo some two years in the past and I made the pitch for Canada and he stated, “I heard you. Simply be affected person.” And this was endurance properly invested as a result of now they acknowledge that with the, , the plant in Alliston is likely one of the greatest performing, if not the perfect performing that they’ve on this planet. So it begin[s] with individuals after which clearly the very fact now we have crucial minerals, renewable power, entry to market, makes Canada a spot of option to manufacture the automobiles of the long run.
Mercedes Stephenson: Let’s discuss one other massive a part of your portfolio. Final time you have been on the present, we talked about the truth that you really do your personal grocery buying. So you might be actually seeing the costs…
François-Philippe Champagne, Innovation, Science and Trade Minister: Certainly.
Mercedes Stephenson: …within the shops. You have been optimistic at that time that you simply thought Canadian grocers have been going to behave. You had kind of the carrot of asking them and the stick of the specter of a windfall tax. You didn’t implement that windfall tax within the price range. Why not?
François-Philippe Champagne, Innovation, Science and Trade Minister: I’m on their again on a regular basis. You recognize we requested one thing. What we get was not what we needed, after which we modified the legislation and we modified the principles of competitors. And I feel that’s one of the simplest ways as a way to make it possible for not solely now, however for the foreseeable future, we’d have extra competitors within the nation. And the parents at dwelling perceive that one of the simplest ways to place stress on costs is to have extra competitors. Along with that, sure, I’ve been in contact with overseas grocers to see whether or not we are able to entice a few of them to come back within the Canadian market as a result of when you have a look at what’s occurring in Australia and New Zealand, in markets in Europe, now we have an excessive amount of focus with regards to grocery within the nation and definitely, the principles that we made, the change that we made on competitors, the largest reform for the reason that act has been enacted, , a long time in the past, that’s already extra conducive to convey overseas entrance.
I’ll provide you with an instance. Earlier than, , once you had one grocer in a single specific space, they will power out mainly to leases the individuals that might come round. Whenever you discuss to the Impartial Grocers of Canada they’d say that’s why once you see a giant banner, you don’t see any smaller grocers as a result of they’ve these guidelines inside the lease that forestall anybody coming round. Properly we made that unlawful now. So these are the sort[s] of issues which could have a direct impression. I admire it’s not like a swap you may activate and off. I’m on their again and can proceed. However I’d say the reform of competitors is a step in the best course to convey stability within the costs we see in Canada.
Mercedes Stephenson: If an important factor is competitors and also you’re possible going to have to usher in the overseas grocers who you talked about, what would make them need to come to Canada, as a result of if I have been a overseas chain trying, I would have a look at the historical past of what occurred with Nordstrom, what occurred with Goal in coming to Canada? Very profitable, very massive American corporations that wrapped up their operations right here and left. So how would you reassure overseas grocers that if they arrive into such a concentrated market with excessive constructing prices, excessive development prices, and established gamers that they’ve an opportunity of being profitable?
François-Philippe Champagne, Innovation, Science and Trade Minister: Properly the change in competitors, I’ll let you know I met one among them in america, and the largest hurdle that they had was about leases. They might not discover 4 or 500 leases or property to lease in [00:07:18 site A] within the nation, regardless of them being very massive: billions of {dollars}. And so they stated, “Minister, now that you simply modified that, it’s altering the sport. Now we’re going to have a look at Canada once more.” So is it simple? No. Is it value making an attempt? Undoubtedly. You recognize once I began with these battery vegetation, individuals have been laughing, saying, “Minister, we by no means had one and now now we have, , a variety of them and counting.” So hear, it at all times begin[s] with a telephone name. We went there. I maintain partaking with them and I’m hopeful. It’s not going to be simple, but it surely’s value making an attempt as a result of Canadians, we all know that housing, the price of residing, these are prime of thoughts to individuals and clearly, grocery is prime of thoughts. So I’ll do every little thing I can to be their voice, to be on the again of CEOs and to make it possible for now we have extra competitors within the nation.
Mercedes Stephenson: Are you near closing a cope with any of these overseas grocers?
François-Philippe Champagne, Innovation, Science and Trade Minister: Hear, it’s by no means simple. It takes time as a result of to your level, you want to interact. We have to prolong the change in dynamics. I say Canadians are prepared for somebody new available in the market: deep discounters, individuals which might supply high quality and aggressive costs. So me, I’d relatively work after which announce than the opposite approach round. So let me do the work and when now we have, hopefully, excellent news then we are able to share with Canadians.
Mercedes Stephenson: Minister, I needed to ask you about your authorities’s interplay with china. Clearly, it’s been a fairly frosty relationship over latest years. We discovered that the deputy minister of overseas affairs travelled to China to attempt to reopen a few of these ties. You’re the trade minister, the place I do know there’s large concern about the opportunity of Chinese language interference, stealing commerce secrets and techniques, making an attempt to lure a few of our prime scientists or prime inventors to China. Is your authorities, out of your division, additionally trying to reopen these ties with China or to have a better relationship?
François-Philippe Champagne, Innovation, Science and Trade Minister: Properly you’re speaking to a former overseas affairs minister. So my approach, when it seems to be to China, is at all times to have interaction with eyes large open. That’s what we’ve accomplished. We’ve made positive to totally different coverage with regards to analysis safety, with regards to crucial minerals, with regards to strategic provide chain, to make it possible for we defend our nationwide safety and our financial safety. That’s what Canadians anticipate from us. On the identical time, , we understand that China is a big economic system and subsequently some degree of engagement like we’re seeing now with the deputy minister of overseas affairs getting in China, I feel it’s going—is the best factor. You recognize, you want to interact, however on the identical time, we have to be eyes large open and I’ve at all times been working with trade, with companions to ensure we try this. We now have strengthened our guidelines to guard our nationwide safety, defend our mental property, ensuring that now we have higher defence on cybersecurity, that now we have guidelines round synthetic intelligence and, , what’s crucial for economic system. In order that’s actually the framework, , interact, however with eyes large open.
Mercedes Stephenson: Minister, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us immediately, and we admire your time.
François-Philippe Champagne, Innovation, Science and Trade Minister: It’s at all times a pleasure to be with you. Thanks.
Mercedes Stephenson: Arising, I sit down with the courageous girl who’s standing as much as the strongman regime in Belarus.
[Break]
Mercedes Stephenson: Whereas Ukraine is within the battle of its life in opposition to Russia, the president of neighbouring Belarus is cozying as much as Vladimir Putin.
Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko snatched management of the nation, saying himself the victor after what a lot of the West known as a fraudulent election in 2020.
He’s anticipated to run once more subsequent yr in a so-called election, which might prolong his rule to 36 years.
And earlier this yr, he signed a legislation, stating that exiled opposition leaders can not run in future elections. That would come with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The previous English trainer ran in opposition to Lukashenko in 2020, and was subsequently threatened with 15 years in a jail camp. She now lives in exile along with her younger kids, heading a government-in-waiting to assist convey Belarus again to democracy. I sat down along with her in a future interview.
Sviatlana, thanks a lot for taking the time to take a seat down with us immediately and inform us a bit about your self and in regards to the very severe state of affairs in Belarus, which is such an vital nation in Europe and within the battle with Ukraine that Canadians don’t hear about fairly often.
You have been the chief of the opposition in Belarus, however you may’t reside there. In actual fact, when you went dwelling, you’ll possible be jailed and you could possibly be killed. Are you able to inform us what’s that like for you?
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian Opposition Chief: For too lengthy, Belarus has been percepted as a part of Russia, appendix of Russia, settled of Russia, however we’re not. We’re [a] European nation who needs to return to its European roots, who needs to be a part of this European household of nations, however there’s [a] dictator who has stricken us again into the Soviet Union previous.
I used to be sentenced to fifteen years in absentia already. I’m [an] extremist and I’m [a] terrorist in my nation, however really now we have hundreds of declared extremists and terrorists amongst Belarusian individuals, its greatest docs, greatest lecturers. It’s aged individuals. Everyone who’s opposing the regime mechanically turns into extremists in Belarus. We now have loads of extremists in Belarusian jails. These are our political prisoners. So extremists in Belarus is individuals who [are] preventing for democratic values.
Mercedes Stephenson: That features Sviatlana’s husband, who was grabbed from the road after saying he was going to run in opposition to the present president. He was sentenced to greater than 19 years in jail. Protests over his detainment, efforts by Amnesty Worldwide and appeals by world leaders have all gotten nowhere.
I can’t think about what that have to be like for you. Are you aware how he’s doing? Have you ever been in a position to converse to him or get any type of an replace?
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian Opposition Chief: So my husband is in jail for nearly 4 years already, and since he was imprisoned I haven’t had chance to speak to him in any respect. However, a brand new approach of torturing political prisoners is to maintain individuals in ‘incommunicable’ mode. It’s a brand new phrase that now we have to study. It implies that lawyer shouldn’t be allowed to go to our beloved. Letters usually are not delivered, so individuals are saved in full isolation. It’s a option to persuade our political prisoners that they’re forgotten. And I haven’t heard something from my husband for one yr. Nothing. I don’t know if he’s alive. My kids ask me every single day. The place is our dad? Why we don’t obtain letters from him? They know that he’s in jail. They know that he’s hero [in] Belarus, however why? What’s occurred? Is he useless? They’re asking me. And it’s essentially the most painful, , not—this uncertainty.
Mercedes Stephenson: The person her husband tried to problem, the present president of Belarus. Aleksandr Lukashenko. He’s been known as Europe’s final dictator, and he’s cozied as much as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
We noticed what occurred to one of many biggest critics of the Russian regime, [00:04:06] Nalvany being killed. How involved are you to your husband in that situation that Lukashenko might undertake these identical ways as Putin?
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian Opposition Chief: After all once I knew about this tragedy, about homicide of Alexei Navalny, I believed that homicide of Navalny might be, or inexperienced mild, or redline for dictators, it’ll rely upon the response of [the] democratic world, if response is not going to be the scale of and robust sufficient, it’ll give alternative for all of the dictators to kill their opponents in jail with none penalties. After all you concentrate on my husband and naturally it’s painful, but in addition, , I had alternative to fulfill with Yulia Navalnaya, the spouse of Alexei. She’s a relatively robust like individual. Many ladies underestimate their power, however when life places you within the state of affairs when it’s important to present all of your energy, your inside power, you simply stand and do what it’s important to do.
Mercedes Stephenson: How would you describe the connection between Vladimir Putin and Aleksandr Lukashenko?
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian Opposition Chief: It’s symbiotic friendship. It’s a friendship once they want one another, they use one another. For a few years, Lukashenko performed a task of seesaw between West after which Russia. Whey they—within the winter, he made friendship with Putin as a result of he wanted low cost fuel and oil. In summer time, he made friendship with Europe as a result of he wanted extra cash when he—in 2020, , Putin, he was—Putin supported him economically, politically. And now he’s like loyal to Putin, totally loyal. So for Putin, Lukashenko can be essential as a result of Lukashenko is [a] very low cost, very loyal accomplice for him. Lukashenko will present our territory, our infrastructure for any Russian troops if they’ll attempt to, , invade Ukraine from our aspect or with like talks that they may assault European international locations. So they only want one another, utilizing one another to bypass sanctions for the time being, but it surely’s not about good relationship. It’s about surviving for the time being.
Mercedes Stephenson: There have been stories of Russian nuclear weapons positioned in Belarus. Are you able to simply converse to what about that and what sort of sign that sends?
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian Opposition Chief: We all know that some amenities are being ready for this nuclear weapon. Nuclear weapon is try to terrorize Belarusians, to blackmail Western international locations, however the principle goal of this deployment is to anchor the presence of Russia in our nation for a few years forward, as a result of it will likely be very troublesome to do away with this nuclear weapon sooner or later. And in addition in case, , these brutal dictators will resolve to make use of type of nuclear weapon, a counterattack might be on Belarus as a result of Putin will launch this nuclear weapon from our nation.
Mercedes Stephenson: International locations reminiscent of Canada have introduced sanctions in opposition to Belarus, the newest when Sviatlana met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this month. The sanctions have been levied in opposition to 21 individuals on human rights violations.
What do you consider the West and NATO’s response, which has largely been to proceed to funnel cash and navy support to Ukraine, in addition to to sanction people in Belarus and in Russia? Is it efficient? Is it sufficient?
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian Opposition Chief: I actually take into account sanctions to be the simplest instrument for weakening the regimes, however the sanctions don’t work successfully due to the massive loopholes that these sanctions have. Sanctions from Russia are imposed totally on import and Belarus on export. They’re utilizing one another to bypass sanctions. Lukashenko buys items for Russia. Russia sells Belarusian items which can be below sanctions in Belarus. So it’s like, , new schemes that everyone is aware of and we ask and we demand synchronization of sanctions between Russia and Belarus regime for them to work successfully.
Mercedes Stephenson: What’s your view on what is going to occur if Russia wins in Ukraine?
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian Opposition Chief: Ukrainians as [a] nation, they’ll battle ‘til the final soldier, the final individual. And naturally, if [the] democratic world will cease helping Ukraine, and if we enable Russia to prevail on this conflict, it is not going to be [the] defeat of Ukraine. Will probably be [the] defeat of [the] democratic world and since Ukrainians usually are not preventing for his or her land. They’re preventing for the very values that your nation, democratic international locations are having fun with. And consider me, we all know dictatorship higher. If—to permit the beast, , to prevail in a single nation, they won’t cease there. They may problem [the] democratic world additional, and consider me, the subsequent doorways this enemy will knock, it will likely be your doorways.
Mercedes Stephenson: Thanks a lot for sitting down with me an explaining this problem to us, and our ideas are with you and your kids and definitely together with your husband, too, as you all battle for freedom in Belarus.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarusian Opposition Chief: Thanks.
Mercedes Stephenson: Up subsequent, the message and the messenger. The prime minister’s post-budget tour and Pierre Poilievre’s impromptu street cease.
[Break]
Mercedes Stephenson: And now for one final thing…
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cupboard have been cross-crossing the nation selling their federal price range. However the price range blitz could also be in useless, at the very least in keeping with the polls.
In an unique ballot for International Information, Ipsos discovered just some days after the price range that 34 per cent of Canadians surveyed stated the price range made it ‘much less possible’ they might vote for the Liberals. Solely 8 per cent say they’d be ‘extra possible’ to vote for the Liberals. And for most individuals, 58 per cent, it didn’t change their views.
Pierre Poilievre continues to take pleasure in a major lead over Justin Trudeau, with the Tories main the Liberals 43 to 24 per cent. Nevertheless, being the frontrunner comes with larger scrutiny and expectations, which implies his unplanned cease at a convoy like encampment final week of people that say they have been protesting the carbon tax, created an issue for the Conservative chief.
Pierre Poilievre, Opposition Chief: “Everybody’s proud of what you’re doing.”
Mercedes Stephenson: Movies from individuals on the encampment documented Poilievre’s go to and present him standing subsequent to ‘F Trudeau’ flags. And this flag, doodled on a trailer door is of a lot larger significance. That’s the image of a far proper extremist group known as Diagolon that CSIS has warned about. The Liberals pounced instantly.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: “The Diagolon is a violent, white nationalist group. Anybody who needs to be prime minister of this nation must be clear with Canadians about whose votes he needs and who he stands with.”
Mercedes Stephenson: Poilievre’s workplace says he was simply stopping to see an anti-carbon tax protest. Diagolon isn’t a fan of Pierre Poilievre. They mock him they usually’ve threatened his spouse. However his workplace didn’t condemn the group when requested in regards to the pit cease.
Canadian voters have a dilemma between damaged Liberal guarantees, scandals and too little, too late, and the Conservatives controversies and tone challenges. Each main events have questions on political management.
That’s our present for immediately. Thanks a lot for becoming a member of us, and we’ll see you subsequent week.
