Letters to the Editor : CP Autumn 2007

Canadian Perspectives Autumn 2007

Letters to the Editor

A TORY CHANGES HIS SPOTS

I owe you an apology. I was a Progressive Conservative member and once a loyal Brian Mulroney supporter. When your organization first got started, I thought that your organization was arrogant – did it mean that anyone who didn’t support your fight to protect Canadian sovereignty was not a true Canadian?

Since then, the political landscape and my values have changed. I have discovered something shocking. I now believe that big business and big government do not fight for the average working Canadian; they are only looking out for their own self interests.

Those same self interests normally are counter to what average Canadians want. They are not listening to Canadians and they need a wake-up call!

I have become more environmentally aware in the last few years and I now know many people who do belong to the Council of Canadians. They are not the frothing-at-themouth, left-wing lunatics that they are portrayed as by the right. I had been mulling over the idea of joining the London chapter for a few months.

The event that has galvanized my desire to join the Council is the Montebello conference. How dare the U.S. government dictate security in another sovereign country, one that is supposed to be a friendly country! Why would we continue to sign more agreements with the U.S. when they don’t honour the ones they have already signed with us?

This is why I have already submitted my first donation to the Council of Canadians and I will be joining the London chapter. If an old Tory like me can change his spots, then there is hope for all Canadians out there.

Rod Morley
London, Ontario

WHERE ARE OUR U.S. FRIENDS?

We have just received the summer issue of Canadian Perspectives which we appreciate very much. The article entitled “High Stakes and Big Ideas” (Summer 2007) was fascinating and is another example of what needs to happen as we attempt to counter the behind-the-scenes tactics of multinational corporations to have unfettered access to whatever will bring them money.

One of the things we miss in most of the reading we do is reference to the civil society groups in the United States who are working for exactly the same goals that civil societies here in Canada and in other countries are pursuing.

This leaves us with the sense that the conflict is between world civil society and the United States and we know that this is a false impression. We think it would be helpful if there was more reference to the U.S. groups who are concerned for justice, democracy, and equality.

Congratulations on the quality of the work you do and the value of the causes that you champion.

Ethel F. Quiring and Hugh W. Savage
Hepburn, Saskatchewan

Editor’s note:

Thanks so much for your letter. The Council of Canadians frequently works with allies in the U.S. and Mexico to counter the effects of unfair trade agreements and envision a more just and sustainable North America. In this issue, see an article by prominent U.S. anti-war activist Ann Wright. And visit our website at www.canadians.org to read the Spring 2007 issue of the magazine, where we profiled the U.S.-based Alliance for Responsible Trade. We’ll continue to highlight our civil society partners from the U.S. and Mexico in future issues of Canadian Perspectives, so keep reading.

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