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How to find the SPP in the House of Commons

November 22, 2007
Posted by Brent Patterson

The ACTivist magazine has set up a search and browse tool for Hansard, the traditional name for the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates. The keyword search function has been set for 'Security and Prosperity Partnership' and so it notes anytime the SPP has been mentioned in the House of Commons or in parliamentary committees.

It would appear that in this session of Parliament, the SPP has only been mentioned three times -- all by Denise Savoie, the NDP Member of Parliament for Victoria (see below for what she has said).

You can click here to access the Hansard search tool.

It is important to remember that all four opposition parties backed the demand at the time of the SPP Summit in Montebello this August 20-21 that the SPP be scrutinized by Parliament:

LIBERAL PARTY (August 17): "We will table a resolution calling on the government to inform Canadians of the work and negotiations of the SPP, and to report to the House of Commons to allow for parliamentary scrutiny and a full and informed debate when the Parliament reconvenes."

LE BLOC QUEBECOIS (16 août): "Il est clair que le Canada doit suspendre la mise en application des nouvelles mesures règlementaires découlant des discussions du PSP jusqu’à ce qu’il ait consulté les parlementaires. D’ailleurs, le gouvernement Harper ne dispose d’aucun mandat pour agir dans le secret et procéder à des changements avec ses partenaires de l’ALÉNA." (It's clear that Canada must suspend all current regulatory measures related to the SPP until parliament has been consulted. Without a consultation, Harper cannot claim to have a mandate for proceeding with regulatory changes, in secret, with his NAFTA partners.)

NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (August 17): "The NDP will continue to show leadership, working to ensure that any further developments on the SPP are stopped until a full legislative review, public debate and parliamentary vote take place."

GREEN PARTY (August 16): "The SPP is integrating the military, security, trade, economic, regulatory, and foreign polices of Canada, the US, and Mexico without public input or Parliamentary or Congressional scrutiny."

While the Green Party does not have a seat in the House of Commons to raise questions there, they did say in their October 2007 federal election platform that "Green Party MPs will scrap the Security and Prosperity Partnership." On the other hand, the Liberals, who promised to "table a resolution calling on the government to inform Canadians of the work and negotiations of the SPP...when the Parliament reconvenes" (now 38 days ago and counting), have not appeared to do so.

And here's what NDP MP Denise Savoie has said this fall in the House of Commons:

October 19
"On the security and prosperity partnership on which the member's government is forging away enthusiastically and signing away our sovereignty by integrating and harmonizing our regulations in over 300 areas with those of the Americans to better mesh with and fit the needs of American companies, I am wondering if this is in the best interests of Canadians. Would the government support having an open discussion in Parliament?"

RESPONSE from Laurie Hawn (Conservative MP for Edmonton Centre): "Mr. Speaker, the NDP has never seen a conspiracy theory it did not love."

October 22
"...the Conservatives are implementing the Liberals so-called security and prosperity partnership. Behind closed doors and away from the eyes of citizens and their elected representatives in Parliament, the government is hollowing out our country as it pursues its agenda of deep integration with U.S. corporate interests. I take this opportunity to call on the government to bring the SPP agenda to the public scrutiny of Parliament."

November 19
"Mr. Speaker, this petition touches on the so-called security and prosperity partnership which encompasses over 300 wide-ranging initiatives. It is a partnership that appears to be seeking to merge our security policies and practices with those of the United States, leaving Canada with less autonomous and sustainable economic, social, cultural and environmental policies. The petitioners call on the government to stop further implementation of the partnership until there is a democratic mandate from the people of Canada. They urge the government to conduct a transparent and accountable public debate of the process, involving meaningful public consultation with civil society and a full legislative review as the NDP has been calling for."