Several Council of Canadians chapters in British Columbia have recently organized public forums featuring Dr. Shiv Chopra speaking about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and food safety.
April 7 – The Comox Valley chapter hosted Dr. Chopra in Courtenay. That talk also featured chapter activist Alice de Wolff and National Farmers Union president Jan Slomp. De Wolff tells us, “We had a successful evening! 75 people attended the forum. Petitions were signed, DVDs purchased, and promises were made that people would write letters about the TPP.” You can read more about that event in this blog.
Courtenay
April 8 – The Mid-Island chapter hosted his talk in Nanaimo that also featured Paul Manly and Brenda Sayers. Manly says, “The TPP consists of 30 chapters, 6,000 pages of text and appendices using legal language that makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the average citizen to comprehend. These events are very important for helping the public to understand the implications of this far-reaching agreement.”
Nanaimo
April 9 – The Cowichan Valley hosted a talk with Dr. Chopra in Duncan. Chapter activist Donna Cameron tells us, “The people who attended appreciated the information had for them. We also had a Council of Canadians member from Victoria, Ted Woynillowicz, speak on other negative impacts of the TPP as well as other trade deals.”
Duncan
April 10 – The Victoria chapter hosted Dr. Chopra for this event, which also featured Alan Cassels, a drug industry researcher at the University of Victoria. Chapter activist Ted Woynillowicz reports, “About a 100 Victoria residents were in attendance to hear Dr Shiv Chopra caution Canadians about the perils of the TPP in relation to food security. Judging from audience response, they left the meeting with commitments to share with their families, friends and neighbours.” Read the chapter report here.
Victoria
April 12 – The Delta-Richmond chapter hosted Dr. Chopra in Ladner. Chapter activist Lynn Armstrong notes, “We were so fortunate that Dr. Chopra came to our community. He is only making a few stops in B.C. as part of his tour. This was a great opportunity for people to learn more about the TPP and discuss their concerns with Dr. Chopra.”
Next up for Dr. Chopra is Langley (April 13), Chilliwack (April 14) and Vancouver (April 16). Chilliwack chapter activist Suzy Coulter has commented, “Being in the heart of BC’s farmland and dairyland, we in Chilliwack should know and care about where our food comes from and what’s in it. The TPP would make that impossible. And the only time to stop it is now.”
After British Columbia, Dr. Chopra will be hosted by Council of Canadians chapters in Guelph (April 27), Windsor (May 14) and London (May 31). The Peterborough chapter hosted Dr. Chopra at a public event on March 30. You can read more about that here. Council of Canadians trade campaigner Sujata Dey spoke alongside Dr. Chopra at an event in Ottawa on March 10.
To sign our petition opposing the TPP and BGH, please click here.
For more on our campaign to stop the TPP, please click here.
