Author Archives: CanucksBanter
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Federal NDP trade critic calls for more transparency in TPP negotiations
2013 08 28 http://www.ndp.ca
VANCOUVER – NDP Trade critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway) is calling on the Harper Government to give Canadian MPs the same information that US Members of Congress have about the ongoing Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.
The NDP has learned that all members of the US Congress are being given access to the draft text of the TPP.
“The TPP is a sweeping agreement covering issues that affect many areas of Canada’s economy and society – including several areas of policy that have never been subject to trade agreements before,” said Davies. “By keeping Parliament completely in the dark on negotiations the Conservatives also leave Canadians in the dark and, for an agreement of this magnitude that is abnormal and unacceptable.
“If the US can allow its legislators to see the TPP text, there is no reason that Canada can’t,” Davies said.
Davies further expressed concern that American legislators are being given an undue advantage over Canadian MP’s, saying “it is both unfair and unwise for Canadian parliamentarians to operate from such an imbalanced knowledge base in discussions with our US colleagues.”
Access to Information requests have also revealed that there is a small group of insider industry associations that have special access to Canada’s negotiating position, but the Harper Government has prevented others from having access to the text, including Parliamentarians.
“Canadians have a right to know how trade policies are being negotiated, and Parliamentarians have a duty to defend the public’s interests,” said Davies. “Allowing private actors to have information that Parliamentarians don’t have is inappropriate,” said Davies.
Recently, trade experts from across the political spectrum have criticized the Harper Government for being far too secretive in its approach to trade negotiations.
“Canada’s trade performance has suffered badly since the Conservatives took power,” said Davies. “The prosperity of all Canadians depends on healthy, balanced international trade. To get there, we need trade negotiations that are more inclusive and transparent.
“Mr. Harper’s obsession with secrecy is unhelpful, undemocratic and, as the US practice demonstrates, unnecessary.”
Canadians Should Make Decision On Pipeline Projects—Not Politicians
By Andrew Chernoff August 28, 2013
The Kamloops Daily News in today’s editorial discusses the importance of the provinces achieving a positive “all together now” and putting all in for approving the pipeline projects currently before them and the Federal government.
As long as some provinces continue not being onboard, the editorial claims “Canada isn’t getting the biggest bang for its oil”.
The Canadian consumer has never and will never get the “biggest bang for its oil” and will be subjected to high prices for gas and oil, as long as the status quo of how decisions are made by our federal and provincial governments continues.
Canadians have seen what extensive lobbying by multinationals in the oil business, and successful lining of politician pockets with money and other favors, have done for Canada for tens of decades.
With all the trade agreement negotiation going on, such as CETA, TPP, ASEAN, Canadian sovereignty and its resources are threatened more now than ever, with the biggest consequence of the impact to our sovereignty and resources being benefit to Canada less and less, multinationals more and more.
These major projects could create tremendous wealth for Canada but not with Federal and Provincial governments and elected politicians that put their personal political interests and electability ahead of the wishes of the majority of Canadians.
The interests of multinationals threaten to continue to imperialise the Canadian environment and our resources through trade agreements that are being negotiated in secret and which Canadians from coast to coast to coast have no chance voting on.
The pipeline projects must not be subjected in the same way.
The approval of these pipeline projects should depend solely on a vote of Canadians; of Canadians taking into consideration the environment and their impact on communities, not on politicians.
To have Canadians vote though, just might derail the plans of the one per-cent, that want no part of the desire of the majority of Canadians, especially if the majority of Canadians have a problem with their trade agreement and pipeline plans.
As we have seen with the Senate Scandal and the policies and actions of the Harper government, can our politicians really be trusted?
Does the Kamloops Daily News have the courage to advocate for Canadians making the decision on pipeline projects?
Does the Kamloops Daily News trust Canadians to make the proper decision on pipeline projects based on environmental and other impacts on communities, and not on the word of our politicians?
I am ready and able. How about everyone else?
NDP delegates to zero in on leadership
by Carlito Pablo on Aug 28, 2013 http://www.straight.com
Adrian Dix is facing a leadership review in November. Picture: Yolande Cole
Some New Democrats are getting an early start on their fall convention.
On the weekend following Labour Day, three of the four B.C. NDP constituency associations on the North Shore will elect delegates to the November convention at which Adrian Dix will face a leadership review.
Members from North Vancouver–Seymour, North Vancouver–Lonsdale, and West Vancouver–Capilano will hold a joint meeting on September 7 and choose their respective delegates, according to David Schreck.
The former B.C. NDP representative for North Vancouver–Lonsdale expects talk during the gathering to zero in on the fates of Dix, who failed to lead New Democrats to victory in this year’s provincial election, and party president Moe Sihota.
“People know that the leadership of the party screwed up, and somebody has to pay for that,” Schreck told the Straight by phone.
A panel is holding a review of the B.C. NDP’s loss, and its report will be taken up at the convention. “People don’t want to be told that really everything is okay, that voters made a mistake,” Schreck said.
Dix has taken the summer off to ponder his future.
Andrew Phillip Chernoff 