- Action Alert: Harper must walk away from CETA
http://www.canadians.org/walk-away-from-ceta
The Harper government has clinched a new corporate rights deal with the Europe Union called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The deal isn’t expected to increase trade much across the Atlantic. But itwill handcuff our communities, our provinces and our federal government so that it is even more difficult for us to protect the environment, strengthen public services, control pharmaceutical drug costs, create good jobs and support local food and farmers.
Send a letter today asking the Prime Minister to walk away from CETA!
Since the Canada-EU CETA negotiations began four years ago, economic studies have thrown cold water on government and business lobby claims that CETA will help the Canadian economy. In fact, the deal is expected to substantially increase Canada’s trade deficit with EU countries, and make us more reliant on exports of raw resources and other low-value goods.
On the other hand, while there don't seem to be a lot of benefits in CETA, there are many big risks.
The Harper government has thrown Canadian municipalities under the bus, forever banning “buy local” and other sustainable purchasing policies that help create jobs, protect the environment and support local farmers and businesses.
The Harper government has also agreed to lengthen patents and give new monopoly protections to already profitable brand name drug companies, which will needlessly add hundreds of millions to the cost of prescription drugs in Canada. The federal government and provinces are well aware of the costs but seem willing to take them just to get a bad deal with the EU.
Finally, CETA will include an anti-democratic NAFTA-like investor rights chapter that will let European companies sue Canada when legitimate environmental, public health, conservation and other public policies inadvertently affect corporate profits. Canada is facing $2.5 billion worth of corporate lawsuits under NAFTA. We can’t afford to do it all over again with the EU – the biggest economy in the world.
TAKE ACTION
It’s time to raise the volume in our fight against CETA!
While CETA has been signed in principle, it's far from a done deal. It faces a lengthy ratification process in both Canada and Europe. With your help, we can still stop CETA.
Send the following letter to Prime Minister Harper and Trade Minister Ed Fast, opposition party leaders and trade critics, asking them to walk away from this bad deal with the EU. Use the template letter below and feel free to add your own touches to make the letter more effective. Please also share this action on Facebook, Twitter, and in your community..
You can also make the “Walk Away From CETA” image your Facebook or Twitter profile pic for the month of October, and encourage others to do the same. By doing this, people who do not know about the Canada-EU trade and investment negotiations will be encouraged to learn more.
There is growing opposition and antipathy to CETA, but it needs to become louder to have the effect we want it to – to force the Harper government to walk away from a deal that we don’t need and can’t accept.
CETA resources
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STOP CETA HERE!
An unfair trade deal made behind closed doors will be devastating to communities throughout BC and jeopardize our standard of living for generations to come. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union would be a bad deal for British Columbians. If CETA is signed it will:
Standing up to the federal Harper government is a huge risk for anyone to take. Our BC NDP need to know that they have our support and that the risk of NOT standing up to Harper is even greater. The Liberals are not taking that stand, but we can demand the NDP pick up and fight this issue. |
IDLE NO MORE"Idle No More calls on all people to join in a revolution which honors and fulfills Indigenous sovereignty which protects the land and water. Colonization continues through attacks to Indigenous rights and damage to the land and water. We must repair these violations, live the spirit and intent of the treaty relationship, work towards justice in action, and protect Mother Earth." idlenomore.ca
The Council of Canadians Winnipeg Chapter sands with Idle No More, and we encourage all of our members and supporters to join in this mobilization. Please check our events calendar for updates and events near you. |
Solidarity |