MM - TILMA is a monster to MASH
With the abject failure of the Doha Round of world trade talks, the Canadian government has signaled its intent to focus on bilateral balkanization, or what they are calling an open-concept federation. As Prairie Regional Organizer Sheila Muxlow points out this week, provincial free trade agreements, known as TILMA are a monster to MASH. And as Maude Barlow highlights, the Doha collapse should be a wake-up call to the Canadian federal government to abandon the failed free trade model:
COUNCIL COVERAGE
Bottled Great Lakes Water: Will That Be Flat or Sparkling?
“It was only those few free trade watchdogs, primarily the Council of Canadians, who understood what happens in freetradeland because they monitor trade issues, and have been since the Free Trade Agreement with the United States in 1989.”
Sheila Muxlow | TILMA a monster to MASH
Council of Canadians asking county council to oppose inter-provincial trade agreement
“We want to prevent Ontario signing an agreement similar to the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA),” said Roy Brady, Peterborough/Kawartha chapter chairman, in the Peterborough Examiner today.”
Maude Barlow will speak at the upcoming Midland Water Festival
Stuart Trew | Put on the EDL brakes
“From the speed at which provinces are introducing so-called enhanced driver’s licences, you’d think they were a universally acclaimed technology”
Sustainable city? Let’s send a message in a (banned) bottle
“check out the Council of Canadians, which is publicizing worldwide efforts to ban bottled water, which is probably up there in the top 10 most planet-destroying industries in the world.”
International Coalition Emerges to Protect Great Lakes Waters Against Private Exploitation
“A coalition between Food & Water Watch and the Council of Canadians has issued a set of recommendations in response to the [Great Lakes Compact] to ensure that water remains a public resource and is not subject to the exploitation of profit-hungry corporations.”
Privatization of Mexican Oil Will Advance SPP Objectives
This article, which quotes Stuart Trew from the Council of Canadians has been making the rounds in the blogosphere.
Great Lakes Compact Passes Senate, Growing Coalition Calls for Amendments
Independent power projects spark public concern
“A request by the Council of Canadians has sparked ongoing debate at the Columbia Shuswap Regional District over the pros and cons of independent power projects.”
BLOGGING THE COUNCIL
Angela Giles | Let war resisters stay
“signing a contract with the U.S. military does not obligate someone to participate in war crimes.”
Stop freshwater lakes from becoming toxic waste dumps
Paul Hawken’s Account of the “Battle of Seattle”
International Coalition Emerges to Protect Great Lakes Waters Against Private Exploitation
HIGHLIGHTS
Historic Victory for Net Neutrality
Just one hour ago, the Federal Communications Commission voted to punish Comcast for violating Net Neutrality and blocking your right to do what you want on the Internet… Defying every ounce of conventional wisdom in Washington, activists, bloggers, consumer advocates and everyday people have taken on a major corporation and won.
Congressman raises concerns over Great Lakes Compact
“Representative from Michigan says pact approval might weaken environmental regulations”
ENERGY
Nova Scotia considers shorter work week
“Nova Scotia is looking at a four-day work week for government employees as a way to save energy.”
British nuclear plan in disarray
Obama urges opening oil reserves
ELECTIONEERING
Tories to hold confidence votes this fall: PM
“Prime Minister Stephen Harper has set up another election stare-down with the Liberals, warning that he will be holding confidence votes in the Commons this autumn and daring his opponents to bring him down.”
McCain campaign to ride into Calgary
“Republican fundraiser making trip this month to solicit donations from 50,000 American voters living in the city”
Wal-Mart warns managers against Democrats
TRADE
Ding, dong Doha is dead
“ex-U.S. senator Ernest Hollings this week, when accused of being a protectionist, said, more or less: Darn right I am. We protect our borders, our streets, our kids and our health. Why wouldn’t we protect our jobs and our economy?”
Lori Wallach | Stopping the WTO Expansion
“Lori Wallach, director of Global Trade Watch, speaks about the long-lasting impacts of the 1999 Seattle protests in stopping the frightening expansion of the WTO’s power. The protests directly contributed to the internal collapse of the WTO talks dubbed the Millennium Round in December ‘99. Even when the G8 backed by the Bush administration tried to rekindle the agenda post 911 in the “Doha Round,” it never succeeded thanks in large part to massive international protests… The upcoming film Battle in Seattle depicts the drama both inside and outside the WTO talks.” Why she was there.
Local governments reach trade deal (on TILMA)
World trade talks: The aftermath
“Truth be told, the ministers representing Canada at the global trade talks didn’t sound all that broken up when they talked to reporters after the negotiations collapsed. And why would they? Their time horizon has shrunk to a matter of weeks, after which Canada might be plunged into a general election. The last thing Trade Minister Michael Fortier and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz wanted was a multilateral agreement to cut farm support that would force them to confront dairy and poultry producers in Ontario and Quebec. Mr. Fortier sounded almost relieved when he said we now return to the status quo… We are unlikely to remain there long. What happened in Geneva will not stay in Geneva.”
Media Map (RSS)