EDITOR,
Have you heard of CETA yet? No?
Not surprising, given that our federal and provincial governments and corporate leaders are negotiating a "free trade" deal behind closed doors. This time, it's called the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (a.k.a. CETA).
CETA is being negotiated as a "next-generation" free trade deal that goes beyond NAFTA and the WTO in shielding corporate activity from government controls.
CETA will be the largest free-trade deal this country has ever undertaken and last week (Jan. 17 to 21), Canada's government and corporate leaders met in Brussels for the sixth round of negotiations. Representatives of a number of Canadian NGOs also travelled to Europe to oppose the deal, raise concerns and to encourage members of the EU Parliament to put CETA negotiations on hold, and allow for public debates in both Canada and Europe.
What makes CETA different from other trade agreements?
For the first time ever, the provincial governments are involved, and foreign firms can bid on procurement contracts at the municipal level. EU trade negotiators have asked that drinking water be included, opening the door to large EU multinational water companies, like Suez and Veolia, to stake a claim in Canada's public water systems. Unlike NAFTA, the Canada-E.U. free trade agreement would interfere with local and municipal policies for the first time, and yet our mayors and municipal councillors are not part of the negotiations.
Under CETA, Canadian municipalities would deal with foreign companies for the tendering of vital public services such as drinking water, roads, sanitation, health care, and basically anything local. CETA would impact water privatization, food production, tar sands expansion and reduce public policy-setting rights. CETA also provides pharmaceutical, pesticide and seed companies with powerful new tools forcing farmers to buy gene-patented seeds at high prices. Forget about eating local or non-GMO foods.
Even though this agreement affects our food, water and everything else in between, Canadians have been excluded from the discussions. Sadly, you won't find mention of CETA in our corporate-controlled media and even our MLA, MPs and elected officials know very little about CETA or its impacts.
Last November, the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) passed a resolution asking the B.C. government to negotiate a permanent exemption for local governments from CETA. The UBCM's democratic plea could all be for nothing if Ottawa has the last say.
The seventh and final round of CETA talks is planned in Ottawa for April 2011. The Canadian government hopes to have the final agreement signed by October 2011.
Contact your local MLA, MPs, mayor and councillors and find out if they are in favour of this deal. If so, ask them how it would affect your community and how CETA would strengthen Canada's social, economic and environmental policies. Demand that the provinces and territories take immediate steps to remove water from the scope of the proposed CETA agreement.
Get informed about the forthcoming changes. Visit http://tradejustice.cato learn more. Spread the news. Pina BelperioCouncil of Canadians, Whistler Chapter
Whistler
