John McCain Goes to Ottawa, Defends NAFTA

(Video: A-Channel News/Story: CTV News)



“What a blessing it is for the United States to have in Canada a neighbour we fear only on ice rinks and baseball diamonds…”

He took a detour from his presidential campaign and went to Ottawa to address the Economic Club of Canada.

“There aren’t any votes to be won up here,” he told the audience before setting out on a speech outlining the importance of Canada and U.S. relations, particularly in the economic sphere.
Although he did not refer directly to his presidential rival Barack Obama, McCain alluded to the Democrat’s criticism of NAFTA.

“Demanding unilateral changes and threatening to abrogate an agreement that has increased trade and prosperity is nothing more than retreating behind protectionist walls,” he said.
McCain said if he is elected president, he will respect international agreements. Obama criticized the economic pact during his Democratic primary battles with vanquished leadership contender Hillary Clinton. Both the presumptive presidential nominee and the former first lady campaigned promising they would seek changes in the pact.

McCain said NAFTA has helped American and Canadian businesses and workers. “Since the agreement was signed, the United States has added 25 million jobs and Canada more than four million,” he said.

“We have established North America as the world’s largest economic market and the integration of our economies has led to greater competitiveness of American and Canadian businesses. Because of our common market, our workers are better able to compete, and to find opportunities of their own in the global economy.”