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Barlow challenges CETA at rally & public forum in London, UK

Maude Barlow


Top: Maude Barlow speaks at rally in front of Canada House. Photo by Vicki Hird.

Bottom: Natalie Bennett, John Hilary, Mark Dearn, Maude Barlow, Nick Crook. Photo by Ash Lambert.


Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow challenged the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in London today.


At midday, Barlow spoke at a rally against CETA and the United States-European Union Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in front of the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom.


The War On Want-organized rally featured Barlow, War On Want senior trade campaigner Mark Dearn, and Green Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Jean Lambert.


The Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is Gordon Campbell, who up until 2011 was the premier of British Columbia. Campbell has stated, “The Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement is an opportunity for us to help create wealth not just in Canada but in Europe – and it’s a significant one. …I think the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement with the European Union is an important step into the 21st century.”


At the rally, Barlow disagreed stating, “The EU-Canada deal will give corporations too much power.”


And in the evening Barlow spoke at a public forum in the Great Hall at King’s College London.


Along with Barlow, that panel featured Natalie Bennett (Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales), John Hilary (Executive Director of War On Want), and Nick Crook (the head of international relations at UNISON, which “works with individual unions and global union federations to defend public services and fight against austerity around the world”). Mark Dearn was the moderator for the evening.

At the forum, Barlow stated, “Who are we that stop trade agreements? We are mosquitoes. We are everywhere and we sting.”


As noted in the outreach for it, “The meeting will focus on toxic EU-Canada trade deal, CETA, which is due to be signed off later this year before heading for ratification in the European Parliament. CETA had no input from MPs or the public and is a massive threat to public services and democracy – under CETA, big business, including US corporations with offices in Canada, will be able sue the government for policies that affect their profits. You can learn more about TTIP’s ‘evil twin’ here. The European Commission is refusing to say if UK MPs will be given a vote on CETA – thousands of people are calling on David Cameron to ensure our MPs do have a say. Click here to join them [if you live in the UK].”


For more on our campaign to stop CETA, please click here.