Opposition Leaders Criticize Trudeau for Trip to New York During Federal Workers’ Strike

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to reporters ahead of a caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 19, 2023. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)

As the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) strike moves into its eighth day, opposition leaders are criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for leaving the country to attend a summit in New York while negotiations between PSAC and Ottawa remain unresolved.

“If this prime minister was serious about respecting these workers, he wouldn’t be jetting off to New York,” NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said during question period on April 26.

“Workers aren’t buying it, we’re not buying it, and if the prime minister was serious about this he could show some leadership and certainly not allow the minister that put us in this mess to continue to do this work,” Singh added, referring to Treasury Board President Mona Fortier who is leading negotiations with PSAC.

Trudeau will travel to New York today for the Global Citizen NOW summit taking place on April 27 and 28. A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said the summit focuses on advancing “collective efforts in addressing some of the most pressing global challenges and building a better and more equal world for everyone.”

While at the summit, the statement said Trudeau will “champion women’s rights,” co-chair a Sustainable Development Goals Advocates group alongside the prime minister of Barbados, and address the Council on Foreign Relations to emphasize “the importance of the Canada-United States bilateral relationship” and the “strong shared interest in building clean economies.”

PSAC represents the 155,000 public service workers who have been striking across Canada since April 19 after the federal government and the union failed to reach a deal before the deadline. PSAC has escalated its protests in recent days, blocking the Prime Minister’s Office and Treasury Board headquarters, CFB Kingston, and ports in Montreal, British Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Union Wants PM More Involved

On April 26, PSAC President Chris Aylward called on Trudeau to become more involved in order to help settle the dispute.

Singh said that if the prime minister believed the PSAC strike was serious and required the full attention of the government, then he shouldn’t be leaving the country.

Trudeau responded that it was “a little odd that I’m having to explain to a member of the NDP how collective bargaining works.”

The prime minister said the government is continuing to negotiate with PSAC, including by putting forth an offer that “aligns exactly with the recommendations of a third-party expert” on the issue.

“That is the basis for a good deal moving forward that both respects our public servants and is fair for taxpayers. That’s what we’re going to continue to work on,” he said.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said during question period that it was “out of touch” to be travelling when the largest federal strike in Canadian history is ongoing, housing costs have nearly doubled and crime is “ravaging through our streets.”

During his comments, Poilievre began singing the song “New York, New York” in jest and was reminded by Speaker of the House Anthony Rota that singing is not allowed in the chamber.

“I can’t sing very well, but I pay for my hotel rooms. Will he pay for his hotel costs when he goes to New York?” Poilievre asked.

Trudeau responded that over the last few years, his government has been travelling around the world, “singing the praises, quite literally” of Canadian workers.