By Laurie Schell- Muskoka (member of : North American Union Resistance- Canada)
As Canada Day fast approaches I feel a sense of pride and sadness. I am a proud Canadian who loves her homeland and all that it has represented over the years, but those days are disappearing with nary a look back by most. As I think more and more about what Canada is, I come face to face with what it’s not. Canada is no longer a nation making its way in the world for its citizens or posterity. We are no longer the nation of peacekeepers. We are no longer in control of our destiny.
1994 was the year that brought continental governance. It was the time Canada entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA brings us an integrated North American market, yet without the corresponding formal governance for the continent similar to that of the European Union. As with the EU, our leaders make these agreements in small incremental steps, though in North America they bring integration in stealth behind closed doors with no input from the people. By contrast, the EU started with the Treaty of Paris in 1951 establishing a common market for coal and steel. From that time it has grown in a similar fashion of incremental steps to become the European Union we know today, except it was carried out in the light of public scrutiny and by treaty.
The introduction of NAFTA bought the continent’s strongest partner access to Mexico’s cheap labor and preferred access to Canada’s natural resources. NAFTA brought with it many working groups and committees that were mandated to examine issues requiring harmonization of standards necessary for economic integration and most egregiously gives foreign corporations the right to sue for anything that infringes on their ability to make profits. It protects the right of the corporations with no allowance for protection of the environment, communities they operate within, public health and safety or the individual.
We can be sure creating agreements that limit our power and forever change Canada’s destiny was no accident. It would have been an intentional act by those in power knowing it would tie the hands of future governments who may have been inclined to reverse the neo-conservative agenda. To put it into practice required them to change legislation and while our constitution provides us with inviolate rights above the meddling of any politician, you can be certain that NAFTA has done this. It equals a loss of sovereignty and the control over Canada’s future.
NAFTA was the groundwork for continental convergence, but becomes further supplemented by both TILMA and the SPP. Respectively: Trade Investment and Labor Mobility Agreement (TILMA) and the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP). While NAFTA and SPP harmonize our countries and give power to override our laws in favor of foreign corporations, TILMA advances the domestic corporate agenda between provinces.
The SPP is the expansion of policies set out by NAFTA a decade before. One of its goals is the implementation of harmonized policies on food, drugs, security, immigration, manufacturing, the environment and public health. Most notably, SPP continues the privatization of the regulatory functions of government. In other words, decisions are being made for our country via consultation with the corporate elite and without debate in parliament or the approval of the people
After 9/11 and the closing of our borders, huge losses dictated to business leaders that they needed to have a security perimeter around North America, thereby allowing for the free flow of goods within. The year 2002 brought us United States Northern Command (NorthCom). NorthCom’s area of operations will include the United States, Canada, Mexico, parts of the Caribbean and the contiguous waters in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Ultimately, our defense is one more thing being discussed behind closed doors and an integrated command will make it virtually impossible for Canada to have an independent foreign policy.
Finally, to accommodate the transfer of goods created by the cheap labor market to the south as well as the natural resources from the North to fulfill the needs of the dominant central partner, plans include the creation of the NAFTA corridor (or super highway). The corridor will also accommodate the influx of cheap goods from Asia, allowing for them to be inspected in Mexico consolidated with Mexican goods and shipped north. Not only will it accommodate goods, but the exploitation and movement of cheap labor forces from the south through worker programs. No longer will we simply lose jobs as with the implementation of NAFTA, we will see the movement of cheap labor cause undercutting of current wages in the North. Through the NAFTA corridor it is easy to see how P.M. Harper is to keep his promise that the SPP will ensure the smooth and efficient flow of goods and people into Canada.
Yet when brought to their attention, our leaders scoff at the idea that the SPP is the next step toward the North American Union and a common currency. They continually reject criticism as unfounded, but if that is the case why is this being implemented in secrecy? Given that the corporate elite are not just making and overseeing the agreements, but are the direct benefactors of this prosperity, with the results being changes to legislation, diminished sovereignty and worse, the ability for the people of Canada to have any meaningful input in the future of this country destroyed, are we not obligated to question if we are experiencing a corporate coup-de-tat?
“Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power.” Mussolini.
So, is it time to pull out of NAFTA? At the very least it’s time every Canadian accepted the realities of what these agreements have done and where they are taking us and to head into the future knowing what our destiny holds and what we can do to mold the type of future we want for ourselves, our family and our generations to come.
Our politicians need to know that we do not want to be assimilated into the United States and that we must be committed to keeping control of our natural resources. There must be a balance between an integrated economic North America and maintaining our sovereignty, independent policy and national identity.
We must be aware that the health and substance of our nation is in jeopardy and the only way to create the change we want to see is for the people to get involved. The involvement of the people can and will bring about a new and positive direction in Canada. It’s time we showed pride in our country by standing up for everything it means and has meant to us and to preserve this great nation for tomorrow and for the future.
What can be done:
-Contact your local member of parliament by phone, email, or mail. Be sure they know that you oppose the deep integration of our nations.
-Encourage your friends and family to do the same.
-Spread the word to those who don’t know what the NAU is and the dangers it represents.
-Support your local and Canada wide activists who work tirelessly to fight against the NAU.
-Ask questions, sign petitions, organize events, protest.
-For those who can, write, draw, create educational videos and websites.
And on this Canada Day and every Canada Day hereafter, show your love, pride and devotion to our great country in a special and memorable way!
For further information:
Books:
-Uncle Sam and Us, Globalization, Neoconservatism and the Canadian state. Stephen Clarkson.
-The Truth About Canada – Mel Hurtig
Videos:
-Who Killed Canada
Websites:
www.canadians.org – The council of Canadians.
www.policyalternatives.ca – Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives
www.commonfrontiers.ca – Common Frontiers Canada
http://torontochange.com – We are Change – Toronto
Prime Minister Harper:
Phone: 613-992-4211 / Fax: 613-941-6900
EMail: Harper.S@parl.gc.ca
Find your MP at: www.parl.gc.ca
* Laurie Schell – North American Union Resistance- Canada http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=40097008457
