MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2007

North American opposition to debate SPP at public forum

On the eve of the Leader’s Summit in Montebello, the Council of Canadians is bringing together activists, academics and politicians from across the continent to discuss concerns about the impacts of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) on the public interest, the environment and human rights. The forum will also include a political panel where Canada’s opposition parties—the Liberal Party, the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party—will debate the SPP. Conservative MPs have declined an invitation to participate in the debate.

WHO:

Key speakers:

Maude Barlow, National Chairperson, The Council of Canadians
Gustavo Iruegas, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Legitimate Government of Mexico
Michèle Asselin, Fédération des femmes du Québec / RQIC
Michael Byers, author, Intent for a Nation: What is Canada for?
Ann Wright,  retired U.S. Army colonel and anti-war activist

WHEN:

Sunday August 19
4:00 p.m – 6:30 pm

WHERE:

Marion Hall, 140 Louis Pasteur, University of Ottawa

The Council of Canadians is organizing the forum with the collaboration of the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Common Frontiers, the Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP), The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the Canadian Autoworkers Union (CAW) and le Réseau québécois sur l’intégration continentale (RQIC).

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For more information, contact: Dylan Penner, Media Officer, Council of Canadians: (613) 233-4487, ext. 249; 1-800-387-7177, ext. 249;

Read more about the event at IntegrateThis.ca.