Mulroney's Support for NAFTA Preceded its Time

The 1988 Canadian federal election campaign was dominated by the topic of free trade. CBC's national television newscast summed up the three most important issues as 'Free Trade, free trade, and free trade.' Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Liberal leader John Turner debated aggressively on the issue, with Mulroney supporting the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Turner opposing it.

The FTA was a significant economic agreement that aimed to reduce tariffs and increase trade between Canada and the United States. While some saw it as a beneficial deal, others were concerned about the potential impact on Canadian industries and jobs.

Mulroney's support for the FTA was seen as forward-thinking by some, while Turner's opposition was seen as protectionist. The debate highlighted the complexities of free trade and its potential effects on Canada's economy.