January 14, 2004 Monterrey, Mexico - Civil society organizations in Monterrey for the Summit of the Americas are far less enthusiastic about the outcome of the two-day meeting than Prime Minister Paul Martin. The results of the meeting between Martin and President George W. Bush were significantly less substantial than anticipated. Moreover, the Summit’s final declaration subjugates human rights and democracy to trade imperatives.

Following the meeting between Martin and Bush, Canadians may be left wondering what was really gained from this first encounter between the two leaders.

The major announcement from the meeting was that the United States will now inform the Canadian government when it detains a Canadian citizen, as it failed to do in the case of Maher Arar.

“Mr. Martin is claiming victory for convincing the U.S. to respect the Canadian passport. In reality, the U.S. has merely committed to notify the Canadian government before it deports another Canadian citizens to a torture-state,” says Guy Caron, Campaigner for the 100,000-member Council of Canadians. “Simple notification does nothing to prevent another case like that of Maher Arar."

The other announcement was that Canadian companies now will be eligible to bid on the second round of reconstruction contracts in occupied Iraq. Although presented as a special courtesy to Canada, this offer has also been extended to Germany, France and other vocal critics of the war.

"Paul Martin has opened the door for war profiteering by Canadian companies,” says Steven Staples of the Polaris Institute. "Accepting these Pentagon contracts is unethical without a legitimate government in Iraq."

More worrisome for the Council of Canadians was the Declaration of Nuevo Léon, which was issued on the final day of the Summit.

“A review of the Declaration reveals that Canada and the United States have again used pressure tactics to get their way. Gone is any recognition of special treatment for the smaller and poorer nations,” says Caron. “Simply put, Martin’s desire to curry favour with Bush means that he has abandoned Canada’s commitment to disadvantaged countries.”

Geneviève Lessard of Rights and Democracy is similarly disappointed. “Human rights are practically absent, despite the fact that they are essential to social development and democracy. This consecrates the primacy of neo-liberal economic policies as the agent of social and economic development, despite their well-documented failure in the past 20 years. “

“For all their posturing on democracy and social development, the countries of the Americas, including Canada, are simply paying lip service to these crucial issues.”

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