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July 2, 2009
Civil Society groups question Senate's haste in passing Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement
Dear Senators Le Breton and Cowan:
On June 11, shortly after the killings that took place in the Amazon area of Peru, our three civil society organizations wrote to you urging the Senate to halt Bill C-24, implementing legislation for the Canada - Peru Free Trade Agreement. We had every reason to expect that the Senate, often referred to as Canada’s court of sober second thought, would have taken the time to investigate the reasons for the Indigenous protest in Peru that was dealt with harshly by authorities. The resulting deaths of protesters and police led to a serious political crisis in Peru including the resignation of the prime minister, the sudden revoking of controversial Amazonian development laws, and a nationally broadcast apology from the president.
However, with unseemly haste, the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade issued a press release on June 17 announcing that the Senate had passed Bill C-24, which then received royal assent on June 19. With so much reason to delay ratifying the Canada-Peru FTA, we are left wondering what went wrong at the Senate.
- Read the entire letter (PDF)
June 18, 2009
Taskforce on NAFTA Renegotiation:
Letter to Harper,Obama, Calderon
Dear Prime Minister Harper and Presidents Obama and Caldéron:
Fifteen years since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) entered into effect, it has become obvious that many of the promised benefits of the agreement have not come to be. As Members of our Parliaments and Congress in Canada, Mexico and the U.S., we ask you, on behalf of our constituents as well as civil society organizations, to consider a new, people-centered fair trade model; we wish to ensure fair trade with quality-of-life for our peoples and environmental protection as first principles of the Americas. We must reshape trade agreements in North America to ensure rising standards of living for our peoples. Unfortunately, NAFTA has aggravated poverty across the continent. It is clear that NAFTA is not working for the vast majority of inhabitants of North America. It has failed on the bottom line. As lawmakers in our respective chambers, we have voiced concerns about NAFTA promoting a “race to the bottom” rather than equitable development in all three countries.
- Read the entire letter in English En Español En français
June 15, 2009
Letter to the President of Peru Alan Garcia Perez
On June 12, 20 organizations published a letter to the President of Peru protesting the human rights abuses and killings in the Amazon area of Peru.
We are writing to express our deepest concern over the recent police attack on peaceful Indigenous protesters in Bagua, northern Peru. Eyewitness reports indicate that the police fired tear gas and live bullets that resulted in the deaths of both protesters and police officers. We strongly urge your administration to stand down immediately and refrain from using additional deadly force on Indigenous demonstrators.
The news of these deaths is of great concern to Canadians given that our country is close to implementing a free trade agreement with Peru. Canadian people and legislators are watching to see if your government will take immediate steps to defuse this situation while showing proper respect to the many thousands of Indigenous peoples currently exercising their legitimate rights to demand prior consultation or consent over development on their territories.
- View the complete text of the letter En Español
June 11, 2009
No-Colombia-Canada FTA rallies held in Montreal and Ottawa on June 10, 2009: Uribe is persona non-grata!
At rallies held on the same day in Montreal and Ottawa, protesters denounced the presence of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in Canada, and called on the Harper government to immediately halt the implementation of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Colombia. The protests were colourful, creative and noisy as hundreds turned out to show their opposition to the passage of this deadly trade deal.
We have photos from both demonstrations. Just click on the links below.
- View photos from the Ottawa demo on Parliament Hill (via the PSAC website)
June 11, 2009
ACTION ALERT: Canada must halt free trade agreement with Peru
Indigenous communities in Peru have been holding peaceful protests since April 9 to condemn new laws that would allow for the rapid industrialization of the Amazon rainforest. These laws were put in place by the Peruvian government to further facilitate its proposed free trade agreements with Canada and the United States.
Over 30,000 Indigenous protesters have blocked roads, rivers and railways to force the repeal of these new laws, which would make way for intensified oil, mining, logging activities and massive agricultural projects, and to demand that they be consulted on all development planned on their land.
But at dawn on Friday, June 5, 600 Peruvian police in helicopters and on foot opened fire on protesters blocking a road near Bagua in the Peruvian Amazon. Conservative estimates indicate that 60 Indigenous and police have been killed. Police are accused of burning bodies then hiding them in the river and of removing the wounded from hospital to hide the real number of casualties.
Should Canada really be signing a free trade agreement with the Peruvian government when this is how they respond to legitimate protests against oil, mining and forestry projects that threaten to displace local and indigenous communities and further despoil Amazonian ecosystems?
Many of our elected Members of Parliament seem to think so.
The Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement gives Canadian resource companies new legal powers to challenge what few Peruvian laws stand in their way, while paying only lip service to labour rights and environmental protection. The House of Commons has already passed Bill C-24, the implementing legislation for the Agreement, without adding even a mention of human rights; it is currently before the Senate.
But the deal can still be stopped!
We need you to write to the Senate immediately and ask them to send the Canada—Peru FTA back to Parliament for reconsideration. The Senate cannot be allowed to rubber stamp this deal, which legitimizes state repression for the sake of boosting the profits of Canada’s oil patch and major mining companies. By using the form below, your letter will be copied to all the major party leaders so they know Canadians stand in solidarity with the Peruvian Indigenous protesters and oppose the free trade agreement.
In solidarity,
The Council of Canadians
Common Frontiers
MiningWatch Canada
June 9, 2009
Protest against Colombian President's visit to Ottawa
The Canadian government wants
to quickly wrap up a free trade
deal with Colombia, a country
with the worst human rights
record in the Americas.
Canada is now Colombia’s top
trade target. If Canada gives its
seal of approval for “business as
usual” with Colombia it undercuts
the struggle for human rights
improvements.
Canada says it’s committed to
promoting democracy, respect
for human rights, and the rule of
law in the Americas. Ratifying a
free trade deal with a murderous
regime sends the wrong
message!
Demonstration set for Wed, June 10 at 1:00 PM
Canadians say "No" to a deadly trade deal!
Canadians stand up for human rights!
- View the Protest Poster (in English) PDF
- View the Protest Poster (en Francais) PDF
May 25, 2009
Letter from Amnesty International to Michael Ignatieff
Dear Mr Ignatieff:
Since 1978 I have been the Colombia Coordinator for Amnesty International Canada (English Speaking) and in this capacity I wish to make you aware of why I have grave concerns with respect to an initiative that will soon be discussed and voted on by the Parliament of Canada.
May 22, 2009
New trade directions explored at Trinidad summit
"We in Canada under NAFTA would figure out we have to compete with the U. S., so let's see how we can outdo them and get part of their market. In Bolivia, the Indigenous thinking throughout history has been to look at how everybody in the community can progress together. If I specialize in producing some particular thing, why not acknowledge that in your trade with me, rather than try to produce it as well and beat me at it, or sub-produce it in China and sell it to me." - Rick Arnold, quoted in a story in Northumberland Today, May 21, 2009
April 30, 2009
For Immediate Release
Prominent Canadians ask Ignatieff to put human rights before free trade in Colombia
Vancouver - Over 50 prominent individuals and organizations have sent Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff a letter urging him to help stop the ratification of the proposed Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement until a full and independent human rights impact assessment can be carried out. The letter was sent today, the first day of the Liberal Party convention in Vancouver.
“We the undersigned are deeply concerned that Canada would abandon its values and its support of internationally recognized human rights in order to gain economic advantage for its companies at the expense of millions of displaced, impoverished Colombians,” said the letter, which was signed by Maude Barlow, Stephen Lewis, Ed Broadbent, Claudette Carbonneau, Alex Neve, Paul Moist, Rev. Bill Phipps, Farley Mowat, Claire Mowat, Sarah Polley, Naomi Klein, Bruce Cockburn, Nancy White and others, as well as organizations like the Council of Canadians, Greenpeace, Common Frontiers, the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, the National Union of Public and General Employees and many more.
The letter notes that the government of Colombia has one of the worst trade union and human rights records in the world, and that according to the United Nations, the humanitarian crisis in Colombia is the worst in the hemisphere.
“Under President Alvaro Uribe’s watch, more than two million people have been displaced from their resource rich territories, while thousands of trade unionists, peasants, indigenous peoples, Afro-Colombians and activists have been killed by the state and affiliated paramilitary organizations,” the letter reads. “At the same time, the government is mired in corruption, electoral fraud and complicity with drug lords and death squad leaders.”
On March 26, 2009, Canada’s Conservative government tabled legislation that would lead to the ratification of the free trade agreement with Colombia. But last June, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on International Trade recommended that an “impartial human rights impact assessment be carried out by a competent body… before Canada considers ratifying and implementing an agreement with Colombia.”
To date, the NDP and Bloc Québécois have opposed the ratification of the free trade agreement on the grounds that it does not take into account severe human rights violations in Colombia, and that the labour and environmental side agreements are ineffectual. The letter to Ignatieff notes that while trade can support development and the realization of human rights, neither the political conditions in Colombia nor the terms of the free trade agreement meet the criteria that would allow that to happen.
Some of the signatories of the letter will join a noon rally on May 1 outside the downtown Vancouver Convention Centre where Liberals are meeting this week. The rally was planned by civil society and labour groups, to draw attention to how signing a free trade agreement would tarnish Canada's reputation and impose even greater levels of hardship on millions of innocent Colombians.
-30-
- Read the letter and see a full list of signatories
IV Peoples' Summit complete in Trinidad and Tobago
The IV Peoples' Summit of the Americaswas held in Trinidad and Tobago, April 16-18, 2009. As we did during the III Peoples' Summit in 2005, Common Frontiers hosted an information website (www.commonfrontiers.ca/IVpeoplessummit/)for Canadians who attended the event or wanted to keep up to date on what was happening. The site includes information about the event, registration information and the latest summit news, including on-site commentary and pictures.
Updates:
- April 18 update - Read Rick Arnold's latest report, a new message from summit participants and see some pictures from the unauthorized public rally held Saturday morning.
- Message to North American Leaders attending the V Summit of the Americas
- Read Rick Arnold's first report from the Summit in CF Journal
- Visit the IV Peoples' Summit site
February 13, 2009
Canadians to Harper: Renegotiate NAFTA with Obama
OTTAWA – On the occasion of the first visit to Canada by US President Obama, major organizations from across Canada representing diverse sectors of the population have signed a letter to the Prime Minister calling on him to demonstrate a positive change in course for Canada’s trade policy by publicly committing to a transparent and thorough renegotiation of NAFTA. The organizations also back a call for an immediate moratorium on all bilateral free trade agreements involving Canada, and an end to the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.
- Read the media release Read the letter to Prime Minister Harper
February 11, 2009
Obama's Canada Trip May Spell Change for NAFTA
By Rick Arnold, CF Coordinator
(This article originally appeared in Foreign Policy in Focus)
Canadians are looking forward to Barack Obama's February 19 visit to Ottawa — the president's first trip to a foreign country since he took office. Many of us here dare to hope Obama's "change" agenda will inspire some fresh thinking among our own politicians. Ironically, Canadians concerned about our country's economic future (along with the well-being of our social programs) may now find a more sympathetic ear in Washington than in Ottawa — particularly when it comes to the subject of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
- Read the full article online
December 30, 2008
15 Years of Damage is Enough:
NAFTA Must Be Renegotiated
January 1, 2009 marks the 15th anniversary of the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which integrates the economies of Canada and Mexico with that of the United States. For civil society networks in the three North American signatory countries, this anniversary is no cause for celebration
- Read the media release in English en español
November 21, 2008
Obama's Agenda for Change
and the 2009 Summit of the Americas
Barack Obama’s electoral victory represents hope for a change in direction for US relations with Latin America and within the North American region– a change that departs from the Monroe Doctrine of US superiority over its 'backyard' neighbors. North American pundits have already been suggesting that a new US administration must focus its energies on the current economic crisis along with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – leaving no time to deliver on other campaign promises such as putting into practice a new ‘good neighbor’ policy in the Americas and re-visiting existing and pending free trade agreements.
- Read this special report by Rick Arnold and Manuel Pérez-Rocha
November 17, 2008
NO FREE TRADE DEAL WITH COLOMBIA:
Colombian delegation visits Ottawa and Montreal
With the newly minted minority Conservative government in Ottawa preparing to ram through a free trade deal with the Colombia, a country sporting the worst human rights record in the Western Hemisphere, three Colombians travelled up to Montreal and Ottawa to speak with both legislators and activists as part of an initiative to stop the ratification of an FTA with Colombia.
- Read a brief report on their time in Ottawa and Montreal
October 23, 2008
Toronto Rally in solidarity with Colombia
An emergency picket was held on October 23rd in front of the Colombian Consulate in Toronto (Canada) in solidarity with a 24 hour work stoppage by affiliates of the Colombian Central Trade Union Federation, and with rallies being held by the Colombian student movement. The Toronto protesters raised their voices to demand strict observance of human rights in Colombia, and also chanted “hey-hey, ho-ho, the FTA with Colombia has got to go”.
-View some photos from the rally
October 21, 2008
Message of President Evo Morales
The Continental Gathering of Solidarity with Bolivia in Guatemala City, October 9, 2008
"I was going to express the way to recover the life ways of our peoples, called Live Well (el Buen Vivir), to recover our vision of the Mother Earth, that for us is life, because it is not possible for the capitalist model to convert Mother Earth into a commodity. Once again we see the profound correlations between the indigenous movement and the organizations of the social movements, which also throw in their lot in order to Live Well. We greet them so that together we can seek a certain balance in the world.
Along these lines, I want to share and propose for debate some 10 commandments to save the planet, for humanity and for life, not only at this level but also to debate among our communities, and our organizations."
-Read Evo Morales' entire message.
October 7, 2008
Canada must renegotiate NAFTA now!
Election 2008 fact sheets for activists
What is it about?
A series of one-page fact sheets each tackling a different aspect of the overall impact 15 years of NAFTA has had on Canadians. These one-pagers are posted on the Common Frontiers (CF) web site and can be downloaded and printed off directly as the need arises. Further fact sheets will be added as CF members complete them, so visit often.
Who is it for?
Activists, members of social organizations, individuals who would like to see NAFTA on the national agenda in the 2008 elections, and want candidates to state clearly where they (and their parties) stand with regard to NAFTA renegotiation and/or withdrawal from the agreement.
How are the sheets organized?
Each one-page fact sheet has a similar (but not identical) structure. The title ‘names’ the issue. The first part deals with why the issue is important, and what its link to ‘free trade’ is. The third component outlines what we want government to start/stop doing about this, followed lastly with suggestions on ‘what you can do’. At the very bottom is the CF web site address where interested people can go to view the other one-pagers in the series.
-Visit the Election 2008 fact sheets for activists page
September 25, 2008
Wake up Canada!
A comic book story about the SPP
WAKE UP CANADA! Find out why we must stop the SPP! is a comic book-style educational tool produced by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).
This colourful comic looks behind the semi-secretive Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) to see 'What's at stake', and 'Who's calling the shots?'.
Find out why we must stop the Security and Prosperity Partnership. Download the comic book from the CLC website by clicking on the link below to learn more.
-Click here to view this CLC publication
September 18, 2008
CF letter to David Emerson
Today, Common Frontiers sent a letter to Canadian Foreign Minister Emerson about the crisis in Bolivia.
"The democratic government of Bolivia has been under threat of partition by right wing elements in the "media luna" provinces who are opposed to Evo Morales efforts to improve conditions for the country's poor and indigenous majority by using a portion of the gas revenues to fund social programs. The US Ambassador has been asked to leave as he ignored formal warnings by the Morales government not to intervene in Bolivia's internal affairs and to cease meeting with the Governors of the four dissident eastern departments."
"Though most of the major countries in the Americas have issued statements of support for the embattled Morales government, Canada has chosen to remain silent, making a mockery of Prime Minister Harper's pledge last year to move the Americas to the top of the Canadian government's policy priorities. Canada's silence at this critical moment in Bolivia's history will undoubtedly be interpreted by the 12 nations that make up South America as tacit support for Washington's efforts to topple the Morales government. So long to the our epithet of "good neighbour" in the Americas."
Read the CF letter to Minister Emerson English and Spanish versions
August 7, 2008
Ding, dong Doha is dead
By Rick Salutin
This article originally appeared in the August 1, 2008 Globe and Mail
It's reprinted with the kind permission of the author
We're all prisoners of our autobiographies. It determines what we have to offer to each other. I, for instance, felt a sweet little surge of schadenfreude this week when I read that the latest "Doha" round of free-trade talks in Geneva had failed. Free trade does that to me. This fall will be 20 years since the free-trade election of 1988 but it still feels like the most dire Canadian event of my lifetime.
July 4, 2008
Over a Barrel: Exiting from NAFTA’s Proportionality Clause
A new study Over a Barrel: Exiting from NAFTA’s Proportionality Clause co-authored by Gordon Laxer, professor of political economy at the University of Alberta and Common Frontiers member John Dillon, economic justice researcher at KAIROS, examines how the North American Free Trade Agreement prevents Canadians from exercising sovereignty over our own energy supplies.
Over a Barrel shows how, far from being an “energy superpower” as Prime Minister Harper claims, Canada is actually an energy colony, serving the USA’s voracious appetite for non-renewable hydrocarbons ahead of our own needs.
The study examines three scenarios in which the U.S. could invoke NAFTA to limit Canadian sovereignty. It could prevent us from a) conserving non-renewable hydrocarbons for future generations; b) setting aside natural gas for higher-value added petrochemical industries; or c) meeting eastern Canadians needs in the event of a global supply emergency.
Canadians have only 9 years of proven natural gas supplies and 13 years worth of conventional oil left and are already dependent on imports for almost half the petroleum we consume.
As the Presidential campaign of Barack Obama opens up a new re-examination of NAFTA, Canadians must seize the opportunity to reassert control over our own oil and gas resources by demanding the same exemption from the proportional sharing clause as was achieved by Mexico when NAFTA was negotiated.
- Click here to get a copy of the entire study
July 4, 2008
NAFTA Growing Resistance & Calls
for Renegotiation & Oversight
A PowerPoint presentation by Janet M Eaton, PhD, academic, researcher, activist and free trade critic, given June 6, 2008. This is an abbreviated version with reference only to Canadian civil society organzations.
The unabridged 60 slide power point with text, quotes, references and images chronicles the resistance to NAFTA that is rapidly emerging across North America. Civil Society groups, political parties, elected representatives, public policy centres and coalitions in Mexico, Canada and the US, as well as cross border coalitions, are all calling for the renegotiation of NAFTA.
- View the abbreviated PDF version, prepared for Common Frontiers,
The unabridged version can be viewed here.
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