PULFER: Don’t ratify TPP

[Oscar]

Don’t ratify TPP

[ http://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/lette ... it-letters ]

by Jim Pulfer June 20, 2016

Hearings being held by the Standing Committee on International Trade concerning Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) protocols will wind up on June 30.

The TPP is clearly good for multilateral corporations. Their profits will be further protected, to the point of extinguishing many of the rights and necessary democratic responsibilities of ordinary Canadians who live and work within Canada. For these simple principles alone, the TPP must not be ratified.

For those who call Canada home and must shoulder the responsibility of democratically deciding what is in the best interests of their locale and community, this so-called partnership agreement is egregiously flawed and short-sighted.

Many people in Asia and the Tropics long to enjoy the environment and standard of living that we have fought for and protected over the years. Why would we foolishly give that up for short-sighted, unequally distributed gain?

It would be as disastrous as, say, giving up the Canadian Wheat Board for the betterment of the profits of grain and rail companies. How is that working out for the bulk of Canadian farmers and consumers? Not so great, now that we see it in full and wondrous operation.

Jim Pulfer, Saskatoon