Wake Up Winnipeg!

September 26, 2009

Deep Integration: STAY ALERT!

This website is an archive for SPP documents. Going forward, we want to build on the accomplishments achieved by stopping the SPP and further improve our cooperation.

For current information on local efforts to promote progressive policies on fair trade, clean water, energy security, public health care, and other issues of social and economic concern to Canadians please refer to the Council of Canadians Winnipeg Chapter Website. CanadainsWinnipeg.com

Thanks to all the speakers, organizers, protesters, activists, leafleters, and posterers that have contributed to this successful campaign!

NEXT:
See article below and hold our leaders to account. click here
Jion the the local chapter of the Council of Canadains for the film screening of "You, Me and the SPP: Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule " October 19, 2009. click here

This website is an archive for SPP documents and will not be updated.

September 25, 2009

ACTION ALERT: SPP “no longer an active initiative” while North American leaders promise “citizen participation” – Let’s hold them to it!

The official U.S. government website for the Security and Prosperity Partnership (www.spp.gov) now states that the SPP is “no longer an active initiative.” We should consider this a limited victory for civil opposition to the dialogue in all three countries. Limited because while the opposition had made the SPP politically poisonous many of its priorities – energy integration, regulatory convergence, security policy harmonization – cropped up in the final leaders’ declaration from the Guadalajara summit this week.

Another victory can be found in the leaders’ promise to hold public consultations on the North American agenda in all three countries.

“We recognize and embrace citizen participation as an integral part of our work together in North America,” says the statement. “We welcome the contributions of businesses, both large and small, and those of civil society groups, non-governmental organizations, academics, experts, and others. We have asked our Ministers to engage in such consultations as they work to realize the goals we have set for ourselves here in Guadalajara.”

It’s now up to us to insist that they do consult publicly and widely, and that it include a hard look at NAFTA’s impact on quality of life, jobs, public services, energy policy and environmental protections in all three countries.

“Leaders cannot meaningfully talk about Mexican migration or refugee applications, let alone the current economic crisis or greenhouse gas reductions, without bumping straight into the reality that NAFTA has failed to produce real security or prosperity for the people of this continent,” we said in a press release after the Guadalajara summit. “North Americans deserve more than platitudes about fighting protectionism from their leaders. We badly need an open, societal dialogue on whether the ‘free trade’ model is in fact a barrier to job creation, environmental protection and public safety.

The above is an excerpt from the Council of Canadians website. Click here to TAKE ACTION.

August 14, 2009

Cautious Victory! - SPP "no longer an active initiative"

Media Release from:
The Council of Canadians

SPP deactivated while ‘three amigos’ promise public consultation on North American agenda

"Opponents of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) are celebrating a preliminary victory in reaction to the announcement on the official U.S. government SPP website that the pact “is no longer an active initiative” says the Council of Canadians. Two years after the controversial SPP summit in Montebello – where police agents provocateurs were exposed trying to subvert the peaceful protest there – opponents of the SPP have succeeded in making the initiative politically poisonous for governments to support."

Link to full media release.

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Notice on the American S.P.P. website:

"The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) is no longer an active initiative and as such this website will act as an archive for SPP documents. There will not be any updates to this site."

Link to website

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Excerpt from the Joint Statement by the North American Leaders (August 10, 2009):

"Our integrated economies are an engine of growth. We are investing in border infrastructure, including advanced technology, to create truly modern borders to facilitate trade and the smooth operation of supply chains, while protecting our security. Building on these investments, we will work together to strengthen the resilience of our critical infrastructure, which transcends borders and sustains the well-being of our communities and economies. We will cooperate in the protection of intellectual property rights to facilitate the development of innovative economies. We commend the progress achieved on reducing unnecessary regulatory differences and have instructed our respective Ministers to continue this work by building on the previous efforts, developing focused priorities and a specific timeline.

North American trade is a vital component of our economic well-being and we pledge to abide by our international responsibilities and avoid protectionist measures. We reiterate our commitment to reinvigorate our trading relationship and to ensure that the benefits of our economic relationship are widely shared and sustainable. We will seek to promote respect for labour rights and protection of the environment with a continuing dialogue to address the functioning of the Labor and Environmental side agreements. This dialogue must result in mutually agreeable and cooperative activities with the aim to enhance the well-being and prosperity of our citizens and the economic recovery of our countries."

"We recognize and embrace citizen participation as an integral part of our work together in North America. We welcome the contributions of businesses, both large and small, and those of civil society groups, non-governmental organizations, academics, experts, and others. We have asked our Ministers to engage in such consultations as they work to realize the goals we have set for ourselves here in Guadalajara.

President Calderón and President Obama welcome Prime Minister Harper’s offer to host the next North American Leaders´ Summit in 2010. We will continue to work through this North American Leaders’ Summit process, in an inclusive and transparent manner, for the common benefit of the people of Mexico, Canada, and the United States."

Link to full statement

July 24, 2009

Deep Integration Due For a Makeover?

Article from:
Brent Patterson
The Council of Canadians
www.canadians.org/campaignblog
article link

The Canwest News Service reports that, "Mexican President Felipe Calderon is preparing to host Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama for a North American leaders' meeting in early August..."

The article reports that, "The focal point in past summits was always the Security and Prosperity Partnership, a White House-driven initiative to increase intelligence sharing, co-operation on counterterrorism programs and border security between the three countries. But the partnership's agenda — which activists on the political left criticized as secretive and undemocratic — has effectively been pushed to the background since Obama took office in January. Instead, Obama has placed global warming and economic stimulus at the top of his priority list in early dealings with both Harper and Calderon."

Trade campaigner Stuart Trew notes that the Brookings Institution and the Canadian International Council released a report this week by Chris Sands of the Hudson Institute called “Toward a New Frontier: Improving the U.S.-Canadian Border.”

In the report, Sands writes that the Security and Prosperity Partnership “was built with elite support but in the absence of public or even stakeholder support.”

Because of this, Sands writes that US President Barack Obama “will most likely rename the SPP.”

Sands recommends in part that, "The SPP must be rebranded to win any kind of consensus support. ...The Obama administration recognizes this, and could take a few tactical steps to make the SPP (or its eventual successor) work better and win broader support.”

To read Stuart's blog on this report, please go to http://www.canadians.org/tradeblog/?p=188.

The Canwest News Service article is at
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/fp/Obama+Harper+Calderon+meet+August/1790486/story.html.

June 28, 2009

Deep Integration of Resources:
Privatization of Winnipeg's Water Utility to be Voted on July 22nd

Top 10 Reasons to Oppose Water Privatization

1) Privatization Leads to Rate Increases
2) Privatization Undermines Water Quality
3) Companies are Accountable to Shareholders, not Consumers
4) Privatization Fosters Corruption
5) Privatization Reduces Local Control and Public Rights
6) Private Financing Costs More Than Government Financing
7) Privatization Leads to Job Losses
8) Privatization is Difficult to Reverse
9) Privatization Can Leave the Poor With No Access to Clean Water
10) Privatization Would Open the Door to Bulk Water Exports

except from Public Citizen at citizen.org website article
Download PDF

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"Water was not excluded from NAFTA. This means water transported
commercially across the US/Canada border would probably not survive a NAFTA corporate challenge if any government tries to limit the quantity being exported."
excerpt from Sierra Club presentation at sierraclub.org

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TAKE ACTION: Tell Winnipeg City Council to support public water. Send a message to Mayor Sam Katz & City Councillors at this link.

April 22, 2009

Deep Integration of Corporate Control:
Dow sues Canada under NAFTA

Dow suing Canada over pesticide ban
"In its notice of arbitration, Dow claimed Quebec has "no scientific basis to impose the ban" and said the pesticide received extensive testing and is safe to use as directed.
Brenda Harris, regulator and government affairs manager for Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc., told the newspaper the company was justified in filing the suit."
UPI.com
OTTAWA | April 10, 2009

MP seeks ban on cosmetic pesticides
"Pesticide companies should have to prove their products are safe before Canadians can use them to douse their dandelions, Manitoba NDP MP Pat Martin said Tuesday.
The Winnipeg Centre MP introduced legislation to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides at homes and recreation centres unless the company producing the product has scientific proof the chemicals are not harmful to our health."
Winnipeg Free Press
by: Mia Rabson | April 22, 2009

NAFTA and the Unmanning of North America
"Though there is clear evidence of widespread impacts, precise knowledge about which endocrine disruptors are doing the damage — alone or in combination with other chemicals — is lacking. Likewise, the exact biochemical mechanisms by which endocrine disruptors work are in many cases not documented. Still, the Quebec regulation was explicitly adopted as a precaution, and the situation would seem precisely the kind for which the precautionary principle was invented. As one phrasing states: "When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully understood.""
Miller-McCune
by: Chris Wood | March 03, 2009

Dow Suit is Seminal NAFTA Chapter 11 Test
"Indeed, one of the things that has incensed many members of the environmental community—and which might also bemuse members of the Supreme Court—is that pesticide bans in other parts of Canada have already been upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada.
In 2005, the court dismissed an effort by a pesticide industry association to challenge a ban introduced by the City of Toronto. Environmentalists assumed that this ruling affirmed the right of governments to act proactively so as to minimize potential health risks. However, it now appears that the Supreme Court was merely engaged in a dress rehearsal.
Sure, pesticide bans in different parts of Canada have been declared constitutional by the highest court in the land, but in the 21st century, constitutions are not the only law of the land.
Rather, it will fall to three arbitrators—one appointed by Dow, one by Canada, and the third by mutual assent—to determine whether our North American constitution—the NAFTA—sanctions the actions of the Quebec government."
EMBASSY
by: Luke Eric Peterson | April 15, 2009

January 23, 2009

Deep Integration of Military:
Canadian Government Plans to Deport FIVE Iraq War Resisters by January 30!

BACKGROUND

During the period of 1965-1973, more than 50,000 Americans made their way to Canada, refusing to participate in an immoral war. At the time, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau said: "Those who make a conscientious judgment that they must not participate in this war... have my complete sympathy, and indeed our political approach has been to give them access to Canada. Canada should be a refuge from militarism."

On June 3, 2008, all the opposition parties voted in favour of allowing war resisters to stay in Canada. The motion passed, but the Harper government refuses to respect the will of Parliament.

Between January 22 and January 30, five war resisters are facing deportation to the United States. Cliff Cornel, Chris Teske, Kimberly Rivera, Patrick Hart, and Dean Walcott. Kimberly Rivera is the mother of three young children, one barely seven weeks old!All five face Court-Martial, dishonourable discharge, arrest and likely a lengthy prison sentence for the crime of 'desertion.'

Before it's too late, Canadians are encouraged to contact their MP, in person if possible, and register their support for these five people. In the context of a minority government that could theoretically topple in days it is urgent that MPs on all sides know how important this issue is to voters.

Please go to the Take Action section of this website (menu above) and find out how to contact MPs as well as the letters sections of major Canadians newspapers. Every single fax/phone call/email will make a difference!

November 18, 2008

Deep Integration of Resources:
Pipeline to Ship Bulk Water from Manitoba to Texas

The commoditization of water has partially happened. "Designer" or bottled water is already more expensive than oil.
And the creation of dozens of corn-ethanol refineries in the U.S. Midwest will strain water supplies, possibly forcing Great Lakes water southward. This is probably the reason behind the Chicago Mercantile's notion of water futures, to justify pipelines or canals.
excerpt from: "Why water is becoming the new oil", Diane Francis, Financial Post, Published: October 25, 2007

Canada does not export water in bulk form, via pipeline or tanker, to the United States, in spite of various private sector efforts to open the spigot. If you're American and you want Canadian water, you have to buy it in plastic bottles with fancy labels. That's about to change.
excerpt from: "Tories face rising water pressure", Eric Reguly, Globe and Mail, Posted: 10/10/06

A poll released last week by the Canada Institute of the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars and the Toronto-based Canada Institute on North American Issues found that while 72% of Americans favoured exporting more water from Canada to the United States, 76% of Canadians opposed bulk water exports.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has failed to clarify his government's position on bulk water exports, and the Conservative Party platform in the last election did nothing to address growing concerns about the stability and quality of Canada's water supply.
excerpt from: ACTION ALERT: Oppose Manitoba to Texas Water Pipeline, The Council of Canadians, Posted: October 11, 2006

Listen to Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the Council of Canadians, founder of the Blue Planet Project, and recently appointed as the UN's first Senior Advisor on water issues speak on Alert Radio's October 23, 2008 broadcast.

October 12, 2008

Deep Integration:
The Party Policies on SPP and NAFTA

Conservative
Vocal supporter of the SPP. Allotted $303 million in public funding explicitly to SPP initiatives. In May, Conservative MP Leon Benoit stormed out of a parliamentary hearing about the SPP he was chairing, ending a discussion on energy integration with the United States. Strongly supports NAFTA.

Liberal
Agreed to the SPP in March 2005 without consulting Canadians or debating the agreement in Parliament. As an opposition party, they were critical, but not vocal, about the SPP’s lack of transparency, the window it opens for bulk water exports, and its lowering of pesticide safety standards. Does not support renegotiating NAFTA.

Bloc
Used the 2007 Montebello summit to call for more transparency and parliamentary involvement in the SPP. Called for a freeze on all new SPP regulatory measures. Concerned that the SPP’s increase in tar sands production will make it impossible to meet Canada’s Kyoto commitments on greenhouse gas emissions.

NDP
Has been consistently opposed to the SPP and actively campaigned against it in 2007, focusing on its impact on workers and sovereignty. Secured hearings into the agreement at parliamentary committee and launched a national campaign to halt further implementation of the SPP. Supports renegotiating NAFTA.

Green Party
Promises to scrap the SPP saying the agreement “operates from a hyper-security mentality that involves anti-terrorism legislation, Smart Border Accord, security certificates, harmonizing immigration polices and military integration for homeland security.” Called for NAFTA renegotiation in 2006.

Above is a section reproduced from:
The Council of Canadians, Election Resources, Federal Election 2008: Voter's Guide, October 12, 2008.

Anyone But Conservative
Some Canadians concerned with deep integration are choosing to vote strategically this year in order to prevent a Conservative majority. For more information on strategic voting in your area please consult Vote for Environment web site.

October 8, 2008

Deep Integration of Health Care:
U.S. Investor Threatens First Ever 'NAFTA' Health Care Suit

"In mid-July, Melvin J. Howard, an Arizona businessman, filed legal papers that have set in motion a process that could lead to formal arbitration against Canada under provisions of the NAFTA that permit foreign investors to sue governments for certain investment losses."

Above is a section reproduced from:
Embassy, Canada's Foreign Policy Newsweekly, September 17, 2008

Related articles:
Canaian Medicine
Invesment Treaty News
CUPE

September 19, 2008

Deep Integration of Economy with Europe:
Canada to Enter Deep Economic Integration Negotiations with EU

As reported in the Globe and Mail on September 18, "Canadian and European officials say they plan to begin negotiating a massive agreement to integrate Canada 's economy with the 27 nations of the European Union, with preliminary talks to be launched at an Oct. 17 summit in Montreal three days after the federal election." The article continues, "...a senior EU official involved in the talks described (them) as 'deep economic integration negotiations.'”

DEAL WOULD EXCEED SCOPE OF NAFTA
The article states, "The proposed pact would far exceed the scope of older agreements such as NAFTA by encompassing not only unrestricted trade in goods, services and investment and the removal of tariffs, but also the free movement of skilled people and an open market in government services and procurement – which would require that Canadian governments allow European companies to bid as equals on government contracts for both goods and services and end the favouring of local or national providers of public-sector services."

TEXT OF THE DEAL WON'T BE RELEASED DURING THE ELECTION
The Globe reports, “Because of the election, Mr. Harper appears to have decided not to unveil a full text of the proposed agreement, but instead to use the summit to inaugurate the trade talks with the launch of a 'scoping exercise' that will quickly set the goals of the pact and lead to formal 'comprehensive trade and investment negotiations' to begin in 'early 2009,' according to communications between senior Canadian and European officials examined by The Globe and Mail…The two governments have completed a detailed study of the proposed agreement that will be unveiled shortly after the election, should the Conservatives win. Both Ottawa and Brussels have had staff work on a draft text for a deal they had hoped would be introduced at a Canada-EU summit, to be attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Mr. Harper in Montreal on Oct. 17.”

BIG BUSINESS BACKS THE DEAL
While the public has not been allowed to see the study or the draft text, apparently large corporations have. The article notes, "Proponents, including all of Canada 's major business-lobby organizations, are in favour of the deal..."

Above reproduced from:
The Council of Canadians September 18, 2008

Related articles:
Globe & Mail article reproduced at Statism Watch

Take action!

September 16, 2008

Deep Integration of Military:
Winnipeg Joins Pan-Canadian Day of Action

On September 13, 2008 about 80 people rallied in Winnipeg’s Memorial Park in support of a pan-Canadian Day of Action to stop the deportation of American war resisters. Speakers included Iraq war resister Phil McDowell and Vietnam war resister Professor Howard Davidson.

Related article:
Peace Alliance Winnipeg

September 10, 2008

Deep Integration of Military:
Canadian Government Plans to Deport Another Iraq War Resister

BACKGROUND

Following the Second World War, the Nuremberg Tribunal set out important principles of international law. Those principles established that soldiers have a moral duty, not a choice, to refuse to carry out illegal orders.

During the period of 1965-1973, more than 50,000 Americans made their way to Canada, refusing to participate in an immoral war. At the time, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau said: "Those who make a conscientious judgment that they must not participate in this war... have my complete sympathy, and indeed our political approach has been to give them access to Canada. Canada should be a refuge from militarism."

On June 3, 2008, all the opposition parties voted in favour of allowing war resisters to stay in Canada. The motion passed, but the Harper government refuses to respect the will of Parliament.

On July 15, 2008, the Canadian government deported Iraq war resister Robin Long to the United States where he was arrested and court martialled for desertion. Robin was sentenced to 15 months in military prison and received a dishonorable discharge from the military. The sentence is one of the harshest handed to US Iraq war resisters.

Jeremy Hinzman was a U.S soldier who did not agree with the reasons for going to war with Iraq and opposed it on moral grounds. Having been refused conscientious objector status he fled the U.S. rather than be forced to fight in Iraq or face a prison sentence for desertion.
Jeremy and his young family face deportation backto the U.S. on September 23, 2008 unless Canadians rise up to stop it.

August 29 , 2008

Deep Integration of Resources:
Pipeline keeps Winkler, Manitoba in the Dark Regarding New Plans

From the Winkler Times:

Deeper oil pipeline raises Aquifer concerns
File this under “Oh, didn’t you know...?” By Don Radford
Friday August 15, 2008

Running an oil pipeline over the Winkler Aquifer is one thing. Running it through the Aquifer is another and not bothering to tell anyone is yet another.
Winkler city council is a little miffed about the lack of consultation and notice from TransCanada Pipelines when the energy company changed its plans for the pipeline that will carry more than half a million barrels of crude oil a day to the U.S. The council has fired off a letter to TransCanada telling the company it should have kept Winkler “in the loop” on the pipeline plans.

read more...

July 19, 2008

Deep Integration of Security:
The only Westerner still detained in Guantanamo prison is a young Canadian

At the age of 15 Omar Khadr was shot and captured by the U.S. military in Afghanistan. He has been detained, interrogated and subjected conditions that may be defined as torture at the infamous U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Countries such as England and Australia have made arrangements to get their citizens released back to their respective home countries. Yet Canada has not.

Interrogation of Omar Khadr VIDEO
Related articles:
CBC
Globe & Mail
Rolling Stone

July 18, 2008

Deep Integration of Military:
First time ever, Canada deports US War Iraq War Resister

In line with U.S. military bidding, the Canadian government surrendered custody of war resister Robin Long to U.S. authorities on July 15, 2008. This despite a ('non-binding') motion passed in the House of Commons to cease all such deportation and the fact that two thirds of Canadians want to grant these war resisters permanent residence.
Updates and actions posted at resisters.ca

Related articles:
Globe and Mail
CBC
YouTube VIDEO

Winnipeg Vigil July 10th - Peace Alliance Winnipeg

July 9, 2008

Deep Integration of Military:
War Resisters Winnipeg Update

Winnipeg activist draws attention to the case of Corey Glass at MP Joy Smith's office. Free Press article

Two local events are planned for Thursday urging Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley to rescind Glass's deportation order, and to let all war resisters stay in Canada. At 12:10 pm Christian Peacemaker Teams will hold a public prayer vigil at the Canadian Mennonite University on Shaftesbury. At 8:00 pm citizens will gather in front of the Manitoba Legislature to show solidarity for the US Iraq War Resisters.

July 6, 2008

Deep Integration of Military:
War Resisters Update

Winnipeg activists protest the deportation of War Resisters at Conservative MP Rod Bruinooge's office. Free Press article

Corey Glass appeals to Prime Minister Harper for asylum. Video

Federal Court rules that Immigration & Refugee Board must rehear case of war resister Joshua Key. Keep up to date with late breaking Wars Resisters news at resisters.ca

June 28, 2008

Deep Integration of Corporate Ownership:
Report Suggests Speeding Up Trade and Harmonizing Securities

Last year the Harper government created the Competition Review Panel, appointed four business people and a lawyer, and charged them with the task of analyzing Canada's competition and foreign investment policy. Their report is now ready.

"Its 65 recommendations ranged from dropping the de facto prohibition on bank mergers to opening up industries that have traditionally been protected, including uranium mining and telecommunications, to greater foreign ownership" stated a Globe and Mail article.

Currently, foreign companies wanting to takeover Canadian businesses must prove the deal will benefit Canada. The Competition Review Panel now suggests the burden of demonstrating the deal is not good for Canada's be put on the government shoulders.

Related article at 'Integrate This!' website.

June 27, 2008

Deep Integration of Military:
Cory Glass Update

The War Resisters Support Campaign website states,"U.S. Iraq War resister Corey Glass is still facing deportation on July 10th, despite the Parliament of Canada having voted in favour of a motion to let Corey and other U.S. war resisters stay." The group is calling for a National Day of Action on July 2nd and collecting signatures for a petition.

June 19, 2008

Deep Integration of Regulation:
An Act to amend the Copyright Act infringes on Canadian consumer rights.

On June 12, Minister of Industry Jim Prentice introduced Bill C-61, An Act to amend the Copyright Act into the House of Commons. The Conservative government is touting this bill as an improvement over former proposed copyright legislation .

"Instead, their self-described 'made in Canada' solution actually looks an awful lot like the much-criticized U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act." stated Michael Geist, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law. "Once Canadians read the fine print on this bill, many may demand that the government go back to the drawing board."

Charlie Angus, MP Timmins-James Bay argued against the bill in the House of Commons, "This government's made in the USA copyright legislation actually represents a radical rewriting of Canadian Copyright policy, because the absolute legal protection of digital lock deliberately blurs the distinction between private use and counterfeit. So from here on in the only consumer rights you will have are the ones the US industry gives you. If you try and protect your rights they will come after you." link

Listen to Prentice dodge questions and escape interview on CBC radio's Search Engine. What's he afraid to talk about?

Take Action at the Copyright for Canadians website.

Join the Fair Copyright for Canada Winnipeg/Manitoba Chapter facebook group.

June 11, 2008

Deep Integration of Military:
What will happen to U.S. Iraq War Resisters in Canada?

On June 3, 2008 the Canadian Parliament passed an historic motion that calls on the Canadian government to make a program to allow US war resisters to apply for permanent resident status in Canada and to cease all deportation and removal proceedings against US war resisters.

Yet, as far as we know U.S. Iraq war resister James Corey Glass is still facing deportation from Canada on Thursday, June 12, 2008.

Read Amnesty International's Statement in Support of Cory Glass here.