Urgent action required!
Visit http://www.canadians.org/action/2009/09-July-09-2.html for more details
On August 9th and 10th, the leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico will be meeting in Guadalajara Mexico to discuss progress on the Security Prosperity Partnership (SPP). Canadians know nothing about this meeting let alone the SPP. That’s because the people behind the SPP would like to keep us all in the dark.
Following the shock of 9-11, right wing political and business leaders have pushed the Security Prosperity Partnership. Negotiating away from public scrutiny, they say it is the way to keep trade flowing between the United States, Canada and Mexico. The North American Competitiveness Council (NACC), made up of thirty of the largest corporations in North America, are deciding how to harmonize regulations and standards between the three countries without any involvement from groups representing citizens, labour or the environment. The SPP process has by-passed the parliamentary system, there has been little media coverage and no public debate about whether this is a good thing for Canada.
The SPP undermines our democratic rights and the ability of our elected representatives to pass laws and regulations that safeguard the environment, protect workers rights and control the economy in the interest of ordinary citizens. The SPP threatens the sovereignty of all three countries through the deep integration of military, security structures and regulatory regimes. Our Parliamentary democracy could become an empty shell.
In May, I attended a Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce luncheon with American Consul General Phillip Chicola. I asked him whether President Obama was going to continue with the Security Prosperity Partnership model of deep integration with only the large multi national corporations involved in the process. His response was that Obama might change the name but the process of deep integration would continue in its current form.
President Obama promised in February 2008 that all future North American leaders summits “will be conducted with a level of transparency that represents the close ties among our three countries,” and that he “will seek the active and open involvement of citizens, labor, the private sector and non-governmental organizations in setting the agenda and making progress.” Stephen Harper has made no such commitment and the SPP summit is veiled in secrecy again this year.
At the 2007 SPP summit in Montebello Quebec, I marked the occasion by videotaping three undercover police officers with masks, rocks and bottles trying to incite violence and posted it on youtube. The video became an international news story but the SPP was still not properly discussed in the media.
This year I am marking the SPP summit by launching a mini-tour in the Maritimes of my recently completed feature length documentary ‘You, Me and the SPP: Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule.’ Two years of research and interviews provide the in-depth information that Canadians need to understand the SPP. A retired elementary school teacher on the no-fly list, a citizen charged for refusing to fill out the census because the world’s largest arms manufacturers Lockheed Martin is involved in the process, a mother of twins trying to avoid contaminated products, and a laid-off mill-worker all bring the SPP to a personal level.
“If Canadians knew the extent of the Security Prosperity Partnership, they’d reject it. That’s why the process has to take place behind closed doors.” – MP Peter Julian, quoting the Council of Chief executives representative at an international trade committee meeting in 2007.
‘You, Me and the SPP’ is screening
August 10th in Charlottetown at Theater D – Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI 7pm
August 11th in Moncton at Studio 700, 700 Main St. 7pm
August 12th Halifax at The Hub, 1673 Barrington St. 7pm.
August 13th Mabou, Cape Breton at Mabou Senior Citizens Lounge – Birch Street 7pm
Admission is free at all screenings. I’ll be there to answer questions after the film. You can see the trailer on my website at www.manlymedia.com Please pass the info about these screening on to anyone you know in the area.
How will you mark this year’s SPP summit?
Please consider writing a letter to Industry Minister Tony Clement ([email protected]), Prime Minister Stephen Harper ([email protected]), International Trade Minister Stockwell Day ([email protected]), Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon ([email protected]) and your MP to let them know you oppose the SPP model of North American integration and will not tolerate our leaders re-starting it in Mexico this August. Please also consider writing a letter to the editor of your local paper. You can find a list of editors and a sample letter on the Council of Canadians website at http://www.canadians.org/action/2009/09-July-09-2.html
In Solidarity.
Paul Manly
