THE MYTH OF ATLANTICA
Why free trade isn't better trade
June 2007
— download PDF version —
Atlantica is the proposed economic integration of
the Maritime provinces, Newfoundland (but not
Labrador), parts of Quebec, Maine, Vermont, New
Hampshire and upstate New York. This integration of Eastern
Canada and the North-Eastern United States would erase
border restrictions and regulations, creating a massive transportation
corridor to send Asian goods and energy resources
to the United States. Atlantica is a part of the Security and
Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) agenda, aimed
at creating a “free market” between Canada, The United States
and Mexico.
While proponents of Atlantica are pushing for more trade,
there are many examples of the shortcomings of the current
Canada - U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the subsequent
North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that show
this may not be the best way to go. The softwood lumber
dispute, the BSE (mad cow) dispute, and the U.S. decision to
close the border to potatoes from PEI are just a few examples
of how trade disputes have had negative impacts on Canadian
industries. Communities across Canada have also faced severe
manufacturing job cutbacks as companies move jobs out of
Canada to access cheaper labour and lower costs.
Local impacts
In an effort to move Atlantica forward, the big-business lobby
has been pressuring the government to relax trucking regulations,
reduce corporate and fuel taxes and cut taxes on ships
and coast guard fees so corporations will have more incentive
to use a Halifax mega-shipping port. In addition to this, the big
business lobby wants provincial governments to relax highway
rules to allow more commercial traffic. New Brunswick has
already begun a pilot project to allow “truck-trains” – massive
trucks as large as Boeing 737 airplanes – on the highway between
Saint John and Moncton. This would have a disastrous
environmental impact as large ships and truck-trains would
rumble down local highways cutting new paths through communities
and farmlands. The increased traffic would result in
wear and tear on Canadian roads and bridges, and maintenance
and repairs would have to be paid for by Canadian taxpayers.
Lost autonomy
This “harmonization of regulations” is part of the larger
agenda of the SPP. Essentially Atlantica is a tool that will
weaken Canadian sovereignty in favour of “free markets.”
It puts the movement of Asian goods and energy resources
to the United States ahead of establishing our own rules and
regulations. Most of the work on the SPP is happening within
government working groups behind closed doors, but clear
and concrete examples emerge within projects like Atlantica
that reveal the Harper government’s agenda of closer ties with
the United States and Mexico.
As a recent column in the Cape Breton Post points out, Atlantica
has significant drawbacks: “There would be few financial
benefits for (the Atlantic) region, but there would be more
problems over roads, air quality and economic autonomy.”
Say no to Atlantica
The big business agenda of Atlantica will have a negative impact
on Atlantic Canadians and is proceeding without public
input. You can make a difference by writing to your local MP or community newspaper and telling them why you oppose
this proposal.
