.@cafreeland arrives to say a lot of work was done today, she had two meetings w PM and also a phone call with US Trade Rep Lighthizer. Canadian Amb to US and top Canadian negotiator are both returning to Washington tonight #cdnpoli
Freeland will not be returning to Washington at this point says she will keep in touch w negotiators and they are in a “continuous” negotiation at this point #cdnpoli
Asked if why she isn’t going to DC is because talks are at a stale mate, Freeland says “absolutely not” saying currently negotiators need to tackle some technical issues #cdnpoli
In French, Freeland says she had a good meeting with Lighthizer today, but to have a productive next meeting she says technical talks need to be worked out. She stresses the complexity of the talks #cdnpoli
Freeland repeats the need for a good deal not a bad deal, she says today they are in a place where a good deal for all three countries is “achievable” #cdnpoli
Freeland is asked if two briefings with the PM means they’re down to the short strokes on some of the key issues, Freeland says truism of trade talks is nothing is done until everything is done, but says over past weeks there’s been a better understanding #cdnpoli
Freeland makes a point of saying Lighthizer has been negotiating in good faith #cdnpoli
Freeland refuses to answer Q on whether Canada will protect Class 7 pricing in supply management. She says the trust in current negotiations with the US is based on promise to not negotiate in public #cdnpoli
In response to concerns raised by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe about the idea that no deal is better than a bad deal, Freeland repeats her government’s perspective that no deal is better than a bad deal #cdnpoli
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Debate on Bill 31 (which overrides the charter and downsizes Toronto city council) is now underway, starting with Municipal Affairs Minister @SteveClarkPC. There are more government MPPS here than opposition MPPs #onpoli#topoli
@SteveClarkPC Clark says things like Toronto council's 15 hour debate on the city's budget are reasons why Toronto needs a smaller council. #onpoli#topoli