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Canada's House of Commons passes new Ukraine free trade deal 

Canada's House of Commons passes new Ukraine free trade deal 
Photo: Ukrainian presidential office

Canada's House of Commons passed an updated free trade agreement with Ukraine on Tuesday over the objections of Conservative MPs, who have attacked the bill for containing a reference to "carbon pricing", CBC has reported.

It will now go to the Senate for review.

The trade deal has become a political flashpoint in recent months after Conservatives accused the Liberal government of forcing "carbon pricing" provisions into the bill.

The Liberals in turn have accused the Conservatives of abandoning Ukraine. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a shot at Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre ahead of Tuesday's vote.

"He is choosing to not stand with Ukraine, not stand with Ukrainians, and not stand with Ukrainian Canadians," Trudeau said during question period.

Poilievre, whose party has maintained a large polling lead over Trudeau's Liberals for months, has said his party still supports Ukraine and that his only objection is to the carbon pricing provision.

Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer told reporters before Tuesday's vote that his party can't support the bill as long as it contains references to carbon pricing.

"In order for this trade deal to be implemented, Ukraine must agree to promote a carbon tax. That is not something we can support," he said.

The trade agreement imposes no such obligation on the Ukrainian government to introduce a carbon tax. It does include a provision saying the two countries will cooperate to "promote carbon pricing and measures to mitigate carbon leakage risks."

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