perhaps the fact that it isn't in the budget suggests that there's less support for the tpp than some people might think?

the liberals were never excited about nafta, they just calculated that the costs of bailing were worse than the costs of complying. they were in a lose-lose situation, so they picked what they thought was the least bad option. their position on trade has always been too subtle for most people to get - they support the principle of free trade, but reject a very large number of the measures in these "free trade" agreements. so, while they may end up ratifying it, it will only be under the same least-bad kind of calculation. and, it is probably the right calculation, too - as bad as the deal may be.

the best case scenario is that it gets rejected in the united states. and, there's a very real possibility that the issue in 2017 is going to be renegotiating nafta, rather than ratifying the tpp. so, i think the tactical thing to do is remain absolutely silent until the election in the united states finishes.

*that* may be why there's nothing in the budget this year.

www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tpp-ceta-supply-management-package-1.3514990