In The News
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2007
Maude Barlow addresses Parliament on the
Security and Prosperity Partnership
Ottawa – Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the
Council of Canadians, denounced the deep integration agenda
behind the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America
as anti-democratic and a threat to Canada's water and energy
at an International Trade Committee meeting today.
"The Security and Prosperity Partnership is not, as
its proponents claim, about eliminating the 'tyranny of small
differences' among the three NAFTA countries. It is quite
literally about eliminating Canada's ability to determine
independent regulatory standards, environmental protections,
energy security, foreign, military, immigration and other
policies," Barlow told the parliamentary committee.
"To date, the only 'stakeholders' involved or consulted
in the SPP process have been representatives of big business.
Apparently, when it comes to the future of North America,
the public doesn't count. Nor do elected officials who, according
to SPP documents, are only to be 'briefed' after decisions
have been made."
Not only is the SPP being implemented quietly, without public
scrutiny, it also puts Canada's water and energy supplies
in serious danger, said Barlow. She cited the agenda from
an SPP-related meeting in Calgary on April 27, 2007 to discuss,
"creative solutions beyond the current trans-boundary
water arrangements," and, "water consumption, water
transfers and artificial diversions of bulk water," with
the aim of achieving "joint optimum utilization of the
available water."
"These Alberta meetings, funded at least in part by
the U.S. government and the private sector (a fact confirmed
by the U.S. embassy), are about drafting policy, not making
recommendations," Barlow told the committee, adding that
water, like oil, is considered part and parcel of U.S. visions
for a "North American Resource Strategy" that treats
Canada's precious resources as its own.
"The problem with the North American Resource Strategy
proposed by the SPP – as with NAFTA – is that
it leaves Canadians victims of an official policy that renders
Canada not only unwilling but unable to provide for the energy
needs of its citizens – now and in the future,"
she said. "It is high time that the people of Canada,
Mexico and the United States be included in a meaningful way
in the discussion and debate around the Security and Prosperity
Partnership."
The Council of Canadians demands that the Government of Canada
cease all talks leading toward deeper integration with the
United States until there has been a meaningful public consultation
on the issue. It also demands that the SPP be brought into
the House of Commons for a full debate and vote.
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For more information, contact: Meera Karunananthan Media
Officer: (613) 233-4487, ext. 234;
Cell: (613) 795-8685; meera@canadians.org.
Further reading:
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The Council of Canadians
700-170 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, ON K1P 5V5.
Tel: (613) 233-2773; Toll-free: 1-800-387-7177
Fax: (613) 233-6776
inquiries@canadians.org
www.canadians.org
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