Larry Savage, Professor of Labour Studies, and Simon Black, Assistant Professor of Labour Studies, had a piece recently published in The Conversation about the implementation of a strategy of economic nationalism by new Conservative Party leader Erin O’toole.

They write:

“On Labour Day, the Conservative Party’s new leader, Erin O’Toole, released a video touting his new ‘Canada First’ economic strategy. In it, he blames big government, corporate elites and bad trade deals for Canada’s ailing manufacturing and forestry sectors, and offers his Canada First economic strategy as the path towards higher wages and prosperity. 

O’Toole singles out China, in particular, as a threat to Canadian jobs. He also touts the importance of ramping up domestic production of key consumer goods. O’Toole’s messaging sounds eerily similar to U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial America First policy of isolation and protectionism.”

Continue reading the full article here.