Blog

Canada-EU trade pact 'scoping exercise' now underway

March 4, 2009

On February 23, CanWest reported that, "European businesses are demanding the right to bid on provincial government goods and services contracts" to be part of the proposed Canada-European Union trade deal.

As the Council of Canadians has previously noted, the proposed Canada-EU trade deal reportedly exceeds NAFTA in scope and would allow companies to access government contracts and public-sector services.

NEWFOUNDLAND OPPOSES THE DEAL
Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams, citing a proposed EU ban on seal products, said, "At this point, we are not willing to sign on to support the negotiation of a new and comprehensive economic agreement with the European Union."

OTHER PROVINCES SUPPORT THE DEAL
"But a European official said Monday the overwhelming support of other provinces, who issued their own pro-free trade statement Friday, is good enough to justify ongoing talks."

European official Jan Sliva "said the EU is still attempting to clarify 'the commitments of Canadian provinces' in terms of their willingness to implement the accord’s terms."

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Three Canadian soldiers killed by roadside bomb in Afghanistan

March 4, 2009

CBC reports this morning that, "Three Canadian soldiers were killed and two injured in Afghanistan after an improvised explosive device detonated near their armoured vehicle. Warrant Officer Dennis Raymond Brown, Cpl. Dany Fortin and Cpl. Kenneth O'Quinn were killed Tuesday evening..."

The article notes, "The deaths bring the Canadian military's death toll to 111 since the Afghan mission began more than seven years ago. One Canadian diplomat and two Canadian aid workers have also been killed."

The full article is at
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/03/04/canada-afghanistan.html

As the numbers of Canadian soldiers and civilians killed or wounded in Afghanistan grows, the need for the Canadian government to revise its foreign and military policies becomes more urgent each day.

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US opposition to Harper's climate-energy pact proposal

March 3, 2009

The Canadian Press reports this morning that, “Canada's environment minister sat down Monday for a chat with one of the most powerful senators in the United States, but the issue that's hounding Jim Prentice back home -- Alberta's oilsands -- was not discussed…Prentice is in Washington this week to talk to American power brokers about collaborating on clean energy and climate change policies.”

HARPER’S CLIMATE CHANGE-ENERGY PACT IDEA ‘DIDN’T FLY’ WITH OBAMA

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Council signs open letter to Secretary Chu and Administrator Jackson

March 2, 2009

An open letter was sent today by nineteen groups – including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Greenpeace Canada, the Sierra Club of Canada, the Rainforest Action Network, and the Council of Canadians - to US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and Energy Secretary Steven Chu “regarding the Clean Energy Dialogue and Canadian Environment Minister Jim Prentice’s upcoming visit to Washington.”

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Ken Wardroper passes away

March 2, 2009

Ken Wardroper passed away on February 26 at the age of 87. His obituary in the Ottawa Citizen notes that, “He served with the Canadian Scottish Regiment during the Normandy invasion and the liberation of Holland. He attained the rank of Captain with the regiment and was invalided out of the service when seriously wounded for the second time in April 1945. A lengthy recovery followed, after which he joined the Department of External Affairs as a foreign service officer. He served his country in this capacity for a further 37 years, his last overseas posting being Norway, where he held the position of Ambassador. He followed his public service by joining the Council of Canadians, determined to preserve the country and people he loved, and led the Council as interim leader after the resignation of its founder, Mel Hurtig.”

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