Some of your readers may remember the SPP (Security and Prosperity Partnership) Conference held at Montebello, Quebec in August, 2007. Primer Minister Harper hosted Presidents Bush and Calderon in what turned out to be a major fiasco.
The Quebec Provincial Police admitted that undercover police infiltrated a peaceful protest against the SPP Conference, whose mandate is for the 3 countries to work towards the formation of a North American Union. An embarrassing video of the failed attempt to provoke violence by the undercover cops was posted for the world to see on Youtube. So far the Conservative government has failed to conduct an inquiry in to this anti-democratic tactic, and has moved Canada one step closer to a police state.
When the conference (no media present) was over, Harper basically laughed in the face of all Canadians when he said the sessions were about regulating the trade of “jellybeans” between the 3 countries. Bush smirked in his trademark smile and warned of conspiracy theorists dreaming up nonsense. The media was silent, basically complicit with government in its failure to the public to investigate and report on the whole SPP issue.
So why have a big conference at a huge expense for all Canadian taxpayers last August? And why did Harper go to New Orleans on April 28, 2008 for a 4th SPP conference in 4 years? To count jellybeans?
Since these conferences began 4 years ago, no one beyond an elite group of corporate CEO’s has had the issues explained
to them, or been asked how they feel about the SPP- until now.
The Council of Canadians recently commissioned Environics Research Group in April 2008 to find out how Canadians feel about the SPP issues. The full report is available at http://www.canadians.org/ however I have included a short summary here.
§ 87% feel that Canada should regulate its own environmental, health and safety standards
§ 89% feel that Canada should place restrictions on exports of our gas and oil if it is need here first
§ 88% feel that Canada should have a national water policy that recognizes water as a basic human right
§ 48% do not feel that Canada should harmonize its security policies with the U.S.
§ 86% feel that the SPP agreement should be debated and submitted to a vote in Parliament
For 4 of the above items, the Canadian government is actually working in the reverse direction to public opinion!
Given the overwhelming percentages above, notwithstanding the issue of security in which Canadians are divided, what is the Conservative government doing to respond to Canadian concerns? Where is the debate in the House? Where are the questionnaires for the ridings to determine how people feel about the SPP issues?
When will the Conservative government start making Press Releases to inform Canadians about the 4 years of secretive SPP meetings? Will the government admit that the veil will eventually be lifted on the SPP and a North American Union will be rolled out without fanfare by 2010?
If the Conservative government is flagrantly disregarding public opinion now, will it be any different in 2010?
I think our local MP Guy Lauzon better start tackling some of the tough questions affecting all Canadians, forget about spending his time on personal promotion, and find enough courage to give his constituents some truthful answers about the SPP and where it is leading.
If you think high oil and gas prices are changing our lives now, just wait a couple more years for the emerging North American Union. Unfortunately, it may become the biggest giveaway of Canadian sovereignty in our lifetime.
