Mexico meeting may cause us many problems
The Daily News
Published: Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Did you know that Aug. 8-11 in Mexico, the next round of the secretive Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America summit is scheduled, despite strong opposition from the members of the Canadian public who have informed themselves about it?

Prime Minister Stephen Harper continues to sell us down the river.

SPP is the worst deal for Canada that I can remember as it will force us into deep integration with the U.S. on many fronts without our informed consent. Some examples: It will guarantee a five-fold increase in oil sands production regardless of unresolved environmental issues; it will lead to bulk water exports to the U.S.; Canadians will be subject to the paranoid U.S. security procedures and policies (remember Maher Arar), no-fly lists and the recent border tightening) to name but a few.

There are significant civil liberty, military, other energy and yes, economic and trade issues involved too.

But the biggest problem is that politicians from Canada, U.S. and Mexico are deciding these important matters without consulting the public or even open debate in their respective parliaments. They are consulting with big business leaders only, using the smoke screen explanation that these are just "harmonizing regulatory measures" not worthy of scrutiny.

Kind of reminds me of the way the B.C. Liberals semi-privatized B.C. Ferries so it is no longer accountable to the taxpayer while still being subsidized by us.

Secret meetings? The governments won't even confirm the meetings are taking place.

Jordan Ellis

Nanaimo

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