ACTION ALERT: Stop SPP talks, consult with Canadians now

July 12, 2007

As reported on the front-page of the Ottawa Citizen and in numerous other media reports, "Police have derailed plans for a public forum on the Security and Prosperity Partnership that was to take place six kilometres from where the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will gather next month for a summit." (See Ottawa Citizen Police nix meeting near world leaders (PDF), July 12, 2007)

The news report states, "The forum was scheduled for August 19, the day before Prime Minister Stephen Harper, U.S. President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon are due to start two days of meetings on the security partnership, a controversial initiative aimed at more closely aligning the three countries in a variety of areas."

Frederic Castonguay, the municipality of Papineauville's general manager, "confirmed he had been called by Mr. Guy Cote (of the Quebec provincial police), who told him that the police and U.S. army need the community centre as a base of operations for summit security." Despite the fact that the Council of Canadians had paid its $100 deposit for the space, Mr. Castonguay said the police, "didn't want us to rent it to anyone because they need the room there to put equipment and special vehicles. There was no choice."

The Council of Canadians in coalition with other organizations, including the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union of Canada, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Common Frontiers-Canada and the Quebec Network on Continental Integration, had planned to hold a public forum on the Security and Prosperity Partnership in the nearby community with Maude Barlow and a panel of writers, academics and parliamentarians. This public forum was intended to promote broader public awareness and citizen engagement on this important issue. An alternate location for the public forum is now being sought.

Linda McQuaig wrote recently in the Toronto Star, "Given the centrality of (national security and energy, as well as trade), one would have thought that any changes – especially changes that would make Canada more like the U.S. – should involve wide consultation with the Canadian people. But exactly the opposite is happening. The public has been completely shut out of the SPP process...No public consultations have been planned for Montebello. Indeed, security measures will ensure the leaders hear as little as possible from the people."

For more information on the Council of Canadians campaign against the Security and Prosperity Partnership, along with a wide range of analysis and background materials on this issue, please go to IntegrateThis.ca.

THE DEMAND
Activists are encouraged to send their own version of the following message to Prime Minister Stephen Harper (pm@pm.gc.ca), Stephane Dion (Dion.S@parl.gc.ca), Jack Layton (Layton.J@parl.gc.ca) and Gilles Duceppe (Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca) or send a letter using the form below:

Prime Minister Harper,

As a member of the Council of Canadians, I am calling on you to stop talks on the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, including the upcoming leaders summit this August 20-21 in Montebello, and to consult with Canadians on this critical issue.

I was outraged to read that a public forum near Montebello with writers, academics and parliamentarians wanting to speak on this issue was blocked because the police and U.S. army wanted the community centre it was to be held at as a base of operations for summit security.

I am opposed to the SPP, which includes the no-fly list (the SPP states, "Develop comparable standards and procedures…for passenger screening"); pesticide residues (it says, "Work to resolve differences in pesticide maximum residue limits that may be barriers to trade…"); the tar sands (it calls for, "Greater economic production from the oil sands"); and civil rights (it calls for, "sharing of terrorist watch list data and the establishment of appropriate linkages between Canada, the United States and Mexico.")

I also believe that the North American Competitiveness Council should be disbanded. Corporations such as Manulife Financial, Home Depot and Wal-Mart should not be shaping economic policy between Canada and the United States.

I urge you to keep the promise you made in your Throne Speech that "significant international treaties will be submitted for votes in Parliament." I believe that the Security and Prosperity Partnership should be subject to public hearings, as well as brought to the House of Commons for a full debate and vote.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
<your name>

Brent Patterson, Director of Organizing and Campaigns, The Council of Canadians

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SEND YOUR LETTER NOW:

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Recipients	pm@pm.gc.ca Cc: Stephane Dion; Jack Layton; Gilles Duceppe
Compose your letter in the box below.
Prime Minister Harper, As a member of the Council of Canadians, I am calling on you to stop talks on the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, including the upcoming leaders summit this August 20-21 in Montebello, and to consult with Canadians on this critical issue. I was outraged to read that a public forum near Montebello with writers, academics and parliamentarians wanting to speak on this issue was blocked because the police and U.S. army wanted the community centre it was to be held at as a base of operations for summit security. I am opposed to the SPP, which includes the no-fly list (the SPP states, "Develop comparable standards and procedures...for passenger screening"); pesticide residues (it says, "Work to resolve differences in pesticide maximum residue limits that may be barriers to trade..."); the tar sands (it calls for, "Greater economic production from the oil sands"); and civil rights (it calls for, "sharing of terrorist watch list data and the establishment of appropriate linkages between Canada, the United States and Mexico.") I also believe that the North American Competitiveness Council should be disbanded. Corporations such as Manulife Financial, Home Depot and Wal-Mart should not be shaping economic policy between Canada and the United States. I urge you to keep the promise you made in your Throne Speech that "significant international treaties will be submitted for votes in Parliament." I believe that the Security and Prosperity Partnership should be subject to public hearings, as well as brought to the House of Commons for a full debate and vote. I look forward to your response. Sincerely,
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