MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
October 30, 2009

Afta NAFTA: Competing Visions for North America

Toronto, ON, October 30 – Trade policy in the United States is at a crossroads, with implications for Canada and Mexico. Hear from U.S., Mexican and Canadian trade experts about plans to deepen and expand the NAFTA model amid growing Democratic Party and civil society calls to rethink and reform international trade policy to protect workers, the environment and democracy. The Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act, which could force a renegotiation of NAFTA, is only eight Democratic endorsements away from majority support. What opportunities does this open up for a new vision of North American relations?

Organized by the Council of Canadians and Common Frontiers. Sponsored by Rabble.ca. Endorsed by the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

WHEN: Monday, November 2, 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Trinity St. Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto (One block west of Spadina)

SPEAKERS:

Katherine Ozer, executive director of the National Family Farm Coalition who also sits on the boards of the Citizens Trade Campaign, Community Food Security Coalition and the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture.

Manuel Pérez Rocha, director of The NAFTA Plus and the SPP Advocacy Project at the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Policy Studies, and executive committee member of the Mexican Action Network on Free Trade (RMALC).

John Foster, co-founder of Common Frontiers, research associate with the North-South Institute, and former head of OXFAM-Canada (1989-1997).

Moderated by Stuart Trew, Trade Campaigner, The Council of Canadians.

For more information and to arrange interviews: Stuart Trew, email: strew@canadians.org; 647.222.9782.