A just-released Environics Research Group poll of Canadian views on the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) conducted for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, finds that:
- 71 percent support a free trade agreement with the European Union;
- 67 percent would oppose the trade deal if it increased the price of brand-name pharmaceutical drugs;
- 60 percent oppose opening up government purchasing (procurement) to competition to European companies;
- 52 percent oppose the opening up of water and waste treatment to companies in Europe.
CUPE president Paul Moist says, “Canadians recognize the importance of international trade, but they want trade agreements to be responsible and in the best interests of their communities. …The more Canadians learn about CETA, the more they oppose key issues being discussed at the negotiations table.”
Moist and Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow continue their speaking tour on CETA next week with visits to Winnipeg on Monday June 27, Halifax on Tuesday June 28, and St. John’s on Wednesday June 29.
For more on the tour, please see http://canadians.org/tradetour.
For more on the Environics poll, please go to http://cupe.ca/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Environics%20CUPE%20May%202011%20Omnibus-%20CETA.pdf.
