The Chatham Daily News, the Sarnia Observer, the Peterborough Examiner and 16 other newspapers reported on the weekend that Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty and Quebec premier Jean Charest “officially signed the Ontario-Quebec Trade and Cooperation Agreement following a joint cabinet meeting (on Friday) in Toronto.”
The article in these newspapers highlights that, “The Council of Canadians are criticizing the agreement, arguing it should have been put to public debate. In a statement, the council raised concerns that businesses may use their opportunity to vet regulations to encourage a ‘race to the bottom on health, safety and environmental rules’ in both provinces. ‘There is also a risk that local governments will be restricted from pursing stronger or more innovative solutions to climate change, economic growth or job creation than big business interests will tolerate,’ the council says.”
Stuart Trew’s October 2008 rabble.ca article on the Ontario-Quebec deal can be read at http://www.rabble.ca/news/mcguinty-and-charest-hiding-details-trade-deal.
More Council of Canadians analysis on TILMA and inter-provincial trade is at http://canadians.org/DI/issues/TILMA/index.html.
The article in the Toronto Sun is at http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/09/12/10853086-sun.html.
