Wiseman's First Hearing: CUSMA Talks Take Center Stage

0:00Canada's new ambassador to the United States, Mark Weismann, steps up to testify before a House of Commons Committee next Thursday. It's his first time addressing parliamentarians since starting the job in mid-February. The Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee invited him after a blockade-based co-emotion back in early February. Weismann, a former top exec at places like the CPP Investment Board and BlackRock, got the nod from Prime Minister Mark Carney after Kirsten Hillman. He stepped down in December. He's teaming up with Chief Trade Negotiator, Janice Sherret, to lead talks on reviewing the Canada United States' Mexico Agreement. Set for July, Quebec politicians aren't thrilled with him, though. They point to his past knots on the province's dairy supply management system, which the U.S. calls a trade headache. Plus, Weismann co-founded a group pushing Canada's population to $100 million by $2,100,000, raising eyebrows about his priorities. Meanwhile, C-USM and negotiations are heating up.

1:01In mid-March, the U.S. trade rep said Canada lags behind Mexico and full fixes by July 1st, look unlikely. Canada's Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc fired back this week, saying there's no hard deadline and Canada won't cause delays. Weismann's been busy in his first two months, linking up with U.S. Congress folks, senators and Cabinet Secretaries like Doug Burgham and Chris Wright. That trade talks to steal the show at his hearing as both sides push toward that July review. Calgary News Today, powered by AI bringing you what matters.