Windsor-Essex chapter activist Doug Hayes was at the town hall to share printed materials and answer questions about the TPP. Photo by Randy Emerson.
The Council of Canadians Windsor-Essex chapter was at the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) town hall meeting in Windsor last night.
The Canadian Labour Congress’ promotion for the 5-city tour highlights, “The TPP threatens tens-of-thousands of Canadian jobs, will lead to higher prescription drug costs, and threatens our health care system. Learn what the TPP will mean for Canada, your community, and how to stop it.”
Windsor-Essex chapter activist Randy Emerson posted on Facebook, “Council of Canadians Windsor-Essex Chapter at the Stop the TPP town hall in Windsor. A nice crowd has shown up to hear Maude Barlow and Hassan Yussuff speak. Stop The TPP!”
This morning, the Windsor Star reports, “Canada stands to lose on many fronts if the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement is introduced, a labour-sponsored town hall meeting heard Wednesday night. About 200 people gathered at the Ciociaro Club to hear Canadian Labour Congress president Hassan Yussuff, Council of Canadians chair Maude Barlow and former CAW national president Ken Lewenza explain what is wrong with the deal.”
And the news article notes, “Barlow said she has been fighting such trade agreements for years and this is potentially the most dangerous to Canada. ‘The Trans-Pacific Partnership is arguably the worst trade agreement in the world’, said Barlow. ‘The TPP is about reinventing the rules of the international economy in favour of trans-national capital.’ …The agreement will also allow for more corporate litigation against government bodies over things such as environmental regulations, Barlow said. ‘There have been 39 corporate challenges by American corporations through NAFTA’, Barlow said, adding that number would increase dramatically under the TPP.”
Following last night’s town hall in Windsor, Barlow and Yussuff will be speaking next in:
Toronto – November 8
Halifax – November 10
Vancouver – November 22
Winnipeg – November 23
While many have clearly voiced their opposition to the TPP at hearings, consultations and protests, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has commented, “In our conversations with Canadians, with industries which are ongoing, there are a lot of people in favour of it and there are a few who have real concerns and we’re looking at understanding and allaying certain fears and building on some of the opportunities.” Last month, Trudeau stated, “It’s difficult to imagine a world where Canada would turn its back on [the TPP and] three of its top five trading partners. We established very clearly during the campaign that we’re a pro-trade party.”
The signatory countries are expected to try to ratify the TPP by February 2018.
For more on our campaign to stop the TPP, please click here.
