B. McPherson The video was put together by a public sector union. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement(CETA) currently being quietly negotiated is set to profoundly change the Canadian landscape. From privatization of water resources to the importation of cheap labour from formerly eastern block countries, Canadian economy will be changed as much if not more than the NAFTA agreement did. While NAFTA was hammered out in the glare of public debate this far reaching trade agreement is much less known. The organisation known as Trade Justice has leaked some documents regarding this free trade agreement with the European Union. |
It makes for some interesting reading if the documents are as negotiated. Two items are purported to be off the table as far as the CETA agreement goes – agriculture and telecommunications. However in scanning the table provided by the Trade Justice organisation, in the Alberta section, an exception marked is the rental of agricultural equipment with an operator. This could easily mean that farm hands who would normally operate combines and seeders, etc., would be elbowed out by corporations bringing in lower paid foreign workers.
"(*except rental of agricultural equipment with operator)" Trade Justice
Some of the other areas of great concern involve the privatization of public water systems and environmental protection and exempting municipalities from the CETA regulations. Already, publicly funded organisations must work with the TILMA regulations that require that contracts be opened to out of province bidding.
October 2010 the following was passed.
The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) have voted at their annual convention in Whistler to support a resolution from the District of Logan Lake and City of Burnaby asking that the provincial government negotiate a clear, permanent exemption for local governments from the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Canadians.org
Some of the stated aims of the CETA agreement are to facilitate smoother trade between Europe and Canada, reducing trade dependence on the US markets. Make it easier for people and corporations to do business in Canada. And while these may be laudable goals, the secretive nature of the talks has many uneasy about the protection of the work force in Canada as well as the cherished Canadian institutions of universal health care, publicly owned utilities and protection of the environment.
The current economic forum in Davos, Switzerland has Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper lecturing the European leaders on their handling of their economies and pushing his agenda.
"(*except rental of agricultural equipment with operator)" Trade Justice
Some of the other areas of great concern involve the privatization of public water systems and environmental protection and exempting municipalities from the CETA regulations. Already, publicly funded organisations must work with the TILMA regulations that require that contracts be opened to out of province bidding.
October 2010 the following was passed.
The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) have voted at their annual convention in Whistler to support a resolution from the District of Logan Lake and City of Burnaby asking that the provincial government negotiate a clear, permanent exemption for local governments from the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Canadians.org
Some of the stated aims of the CETA agreement are to facilitate smoother trade between Europe and Canada, reducing trade dependence on the US markets. Make it easier for people and corporations to do business in Canada. And while these may be laudable goals, the secretive nature of the talks has many uneasy about the protection of the work force in Canada as well as the cherished Canadian institutions of universal health care, publicly owned utilities and protection of the environment.
The current economic forum in Davos, Switzerland has Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper lecturing the European leaders on their handling of their economies and pushing his agenda.
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