The Council of Canadians’ Demands

There is no good reason why Canadians should be kept in the dark about issues as important as the economic and social future of our country. Corporations certainly shouldn’t be drafting government policy behind closed doors. Most of our elected officials do not understand the extent of deep integration and have not had a chance to vote on the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America. Big corporations are currently setting the parameters and timeline for Canada- U.S. integration without our approval. This must not continue, which is why we demand the following of the Canadian government:

1. Cease all talks leading toward deeper integration between Canada and the United States, including the next Security and Prosperity Partnership summit planned to take place in Canada in 2007.

2. Disband the North American Competitiveness Council. Corporations such as Manulife Financial, Home Depot, Wal-Mart and Lockheed Martin should not be shaping economic policy for Canada and the United States and Mexico.

3. Bring the Security and Prosperity Partnership to the House of Commons for a full debate and vote. The Harper government has promised that “significant international treaties will be submitted for votes in Parliament.”

4. Disclose the complete listing of Security and Prosperity Partnership working groups, their contact persons and participating membership, make public their meeting dates and minutes, and require them to provide opportunities for public input.

5. Consult with Canadians in a meaningful and participatory way on Canada-U.S. relations. The majority of Canadians would prefer a “Sovereignty and Justice Partnership” with the United States, which protects Canada’s energy, water and public health care system, over a corporate-driven security and prosperity agenda.

– From INTEGRATE THIS! A Citizen’s Guide to Fighting Deep Integration.

INTEGRATE THIS! Challenging the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America Free Trade’s Big Lie: NAFTA has failed to create quality jobs or close the income gap, by Jean-Yves LeFort Way Too Close for Comfort: Canada-U.S. military and security integration endangers all Canadians, by Stuart Trew Courting TILMA: U.S. investors eye Alberta and B.C.’s interprovincial trade agreement, by Stuart Trew Unlikely Bedfellows: Right-wing U.S. groups oppose deep integration – for the wrong reasons, by Ariel Troster “People Would Be Outraged”: An interview with Tom Loudon from the Alliance for Responsible Trade, by Ariel Troster See No Evil, Report No Evil: Why the media isn’t telling you about deep integration, by Meera Karunananthan The Council of Canadians’ Demands

Read more about the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) on our website. Email inquiries@canadians.org or call us at 1-800-387-7177, for more information.

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Integrate This! Challenging the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America
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updated March 7, 2007