MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2007

Atlantica will harm Canadian economy says Maude Barlow

Maude Barlow, chairperson of the Council of Canadians, is speaking in Halifax today to warn Atlantic Canadians of the dangers of Atlantica – a proposal by the Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce (APCC) and the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS) to integrate the easternmost provinces with northeastern United States.

“This scheme will give the United States greater access to Canadian resources without benefiting Canadians,” says Barlow.

Local union representatives have stated that there is no advantage to the local economy when unrefined oil, gas and other materials are sent to the United States to be refined by American workers.

U.S. business interests will be central to this agenda given that just this week the Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce appointed American business executive Jonathan Daniels as its chairman.

The Council of Canadians warns that Atlantica is part of a larger agenda led by corporations to integrate the economies of Canada, the United States and Mexico known as the Security and Prosperity Partnership of Canada (SPP). All three governments have confirmed that they will be using the SPP to further the Atlantica agenda.

The Council of Canadians is asking Atlantic Canadians to speak out against this regional integration plan that will weaken Canada’s ability to protect jobs, natural resources and the public interest.

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Maude Barlow will being speaking against Atlantica this coming Wednesday June 13 at 6:30 pm at the Scotiabank Auditorium, Dalhousie University Hall along with Scott Sinclair of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Alejandro Villamar of Red Mexicana de accion frente al libre comercio.