CETA: Tell Magnette that Trudeau does not speak for you on

[Oscar]

Tell Wallonia's minister-president Magnette that Trudeau does not speak for you on CETA

[ http://canadians.org/blog/tell-wallonia ... k-you-ceta ]

March 31, 2017 - 3:10 pm

The Government of Wallonia is threatening to block the ratification of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

The Globe and Mail reports, "The trade deal between Canada and the European Union is facing a new challenge from the Belgium region of Wallonia which is threatening to block final ratification of the agreement. Wallonia First Minister Paul Magnette said in an interview that his government will not support the CETA trade deal when it comes up for ratification unless changes are made to how disputes are resolved. Mr. Magnette also said his government is challenging the legality of the dispute resolution mechanism in the European Court of Justice, which could take at least two years to rule."

That article highlights, "In his book, titled CETA: When Europe Derails, Mr. Magnette offers a candid assessment of how Canadian and EU officials [including then-trade minister Chrystia Freeland and CETA envoy Pierre Pettigrew] tried to pressure Wallonia, using emotional pitches and blunt threats. ...[Pettigrew told Magnette] that Wallonia’s refusal to back CETA would be a punch in the stomach for Mr. Trudeau and that there would 'inevitably be heavy repercussions for relations between Wallonia and Canada'."

If Wallonia refused to ratify CETA, the deal would collapse.

That's because, as The Globe and Mail points out, unanimity is required among all 38 national and regional parliaments in the European Union and any one of those parliaments could veto the agreement.

Undoubtedly, the Trudeau government will use "emotional pitches and blunt threats" against Magnette again to get CETA passed.

To send a message to Magnette and the people of Wallonia that says the Trudeau government does not speak for you:

Paul Magnette, Ministre-Président
Gouvernement wallon
Rue Mazy, 25-27
5100 Namur
BELGIUM
Email: Paul.Magnette@gov.wallonie.be
Fax: 011-32-81-331-366 (leave out the dashes when dialing)

#StopCETA

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Quill Plains (Wynyard) chapter writes Wallonia's Minister-President in support of his stand on CETA

[ http://canadians.org/blog/quill-plains- ... stand-ceta ]

April 3, 2017 - 8:38 am

The Council of Canadians Quill Plains (Wynyard) chapter has written Wallonia's Minister-President Paul Magnette in support of his position on the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Magnette is threatening to block the ratification of CETA. If his government refuses to ratify CETA, the deal would collapse. That's because, as The Globe and Mail points out, unanimity is required among all 38 national and regional parliaments in the European Union and any one of those parliaments can veto the agreement.

Chapter activist Elaine Hughes writes, "Please be assured that I stand with you and the people of Wallonia in your concern over how disputes are to be resolved in CETA. This particular issue has been of concern since the very beginning of this fiasco; here in Canada, you may know, we call CETA a 'Corporate Rights Agreement'!"

She adds, "I am not against trade between nations; it keeps the world turning. But I am in favour of an enlightened world involved in FAIR trade which benefits the people, not the corporations. We wish you luck in resolving this item to the satisfaction of you, your government, your people and, needless to say, other like-minded Canadians."

The Globe and Mail has also reported, "In his book, titled "CETA: When Europe Derails", Magnette offers a candid assessment of how Canadian and EU officials [including then-trade minister Chrystia Freeland and CETA envoy Pierre Pettigrew] tried to pressure Wallonia, using emotional pitches and blunt threats. ...[Pettigrew told Magnette] that Wallonia’s refusal to back CETA would be a punch in the stomach for Mr. Trudeau and that there would 'inevitably be heavy repercussions for relations between Wallonia and Canada'."

Undoubtedly, the Trudeau government will use "emotional pitches and blunt threats" against Magnette again to get CETA passed.

To send a message to Magnette and the people of Wallonia that says the Trudeau government does not speak for you, you can write:

Paul Magnette, Ministre-Président
Gouvernement wallon
Rue Mazy, 25-27
5100 Namur
BELGIUM
Email: Paul.Magnette@gov.wallonie.be
Fax: 011-32-81-331-366 (leave out the dashes when dialing)

#StopCETA

Tags: chapters
[ http://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Guelph chapter writes Wallonia's Minister-President in support of his stand on CETA

[ http://canadians.org/blog/guelph-chapte ... stand-ceta ]

April 7, 2017 - 8:18 am

The Council of Canadians Guelph chapter has written Wallonia's Minister-President Paul Magnette in support of his position on the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Magnette is threatening to block the ratification of CETA. If his government refuses to ratify CETA, the deal would collapse. That's because, as The Globe and Mail points out, unanimity is required among all 38 national and regional parliaments in the European Union and any one of those parliaments can veto the agreement.

Chapter activist Norah Chaloner writes, "I am part of a group in our community that has been informing our city residents about the dangers of the CETA for over three years now. We have tried many times and in many ways to get the message to former Ministers and now to Minister Chrystia Freeland to actually look at the problems with this trade agreement which privileges corporate profits above our sovereign rights to environmental protections and local decision-making."

She adds, "We already see rising inequality in our communities. Our rights to set taxes and protect workers and the environment is critical to our future health, our sustainability and resilience. We understand the risks that CETA is posing to our planet as well as to our local municipality."

Chaloner concludes, "Wallonia! We do not know you but are proud of your stance! Your firm analysis and opposition to this deal strengthens our resolve to continue to raise opposition to this deal on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Warmest regards to you and your government as we both continue to press against CETA."

The Globe and Mail has also reported, "In his book, titled CETA: When Europe Derails, Magnette offers a candid assessment of how Canadian and EU officials [including then-trade minister Chrystia Freeland and CETA envoy Pierre Pettigrew] tried to pressure Wallonia, using emotional pitches and blunt threats. ...[Pettigrew told Magnette] that Wallonia’s refusal to back CETA would be a punch in the stomach for Mr. Trudeau and that there would 'inevitably be heavy repercussions for relations between Wallonia and Canada'."

Undoubtedly, the Trudeau government will use "emotional pitches and blunt threats" against Magnette again to get CETA passed.

To send a message to Magnette and the people of Wallonia that says the Trudeau government does not speak for you, you can write:

Paul Magnette, Ministre-Président
Gouvernement wallon
Rue Mazy, 25-27
5100 Namur
BELGIUM
Email: Paul.Magnette@gov.wallonie.be
Fax: 011-32-81-331-366 (leave out the dashes when dialing)

#StopCETA

Tags: chapters
[ http://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Hamilton chapter writes Wallonia's Minister-President in support of his stand on CETA

[ http://canadians.org/blog/hamilton-chap ... stand-ceta ]

April 7, 2017 - 1:32 pm

The Council of Canadians Hamilton chapter has written Wallonia's Minister-President Paul Magnette in support of his position on the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Magnette is threatening to block the ratification of CETA. If his government refuses to ratify CETA, the deal would collapse. That's because, as The Globe and Mail points out, unanimity is required among all 38 national and regional parliaments in the European Union and any one of those parliaments can veto the agreement.

Chapter activist Kathie Clark writes, "The Hamilton Chapter of the Council of Canadians is one of 60 local Chapters across Canada. We have been campaigning in opposition to CETA since November 2011. Initially we had a CETA Education/Action Group that organized and implemented our campaign. Since then we have expanded our terms of reference and now have a Trade Justice Group that works on all Canadian trade agreements – CETA, TPP, NAFTA and next the Canada-China Trade Agreement."

She adds, "There are many issues in all these trade agreements that are problematic because they support corporate interests over citizens’ needs. In particular we have been lobbying against the investor State dispute settlement process (ISDS)."

And Clark highlights, "I am writing to thank you for your efforts to challenge and defeat CETA and the ISDS. This trade deal is NOT in the best interest of Wallonia nor is it in the best interest of Canada. We seem to be losing the battle in Canada but the war is not over! Please continue your fight against CETA and the ISDS in Wallonia."

The Globe and Mail has also reported, "In his book, titled "CETA: When Europe Derails", Magnette offers a candid assessment of how Canadian and EU officials [including then-trade minister Chrystia Freeland and CETA envoy Pierre Pettigrew] tried to pressure Wallonia, using emotional pitches and blunt threats. ...[Pettigrew told Magnette] that Wallonia’s refusal to back CETA would be a punch in the stomach for Mr. Trudeau and that there would 'inevitably be heavy repercussions for relations between Wallonia and Canada'."

Undoubtedly, the Trudeau government will use "emotional pitches and blunt threats" against Magnette again to get CETA passed.

To send a message to Magnette and the people of Wallonia that says the Trudeau government does not speak for you, you can write:

Paul Magnette, Ministre-Président
Gouvernement wallon
Rue Mazy, 25-27
5100 Namur
BELGIUM
Email: Paul.Magnette@gov.wallonie.be
Fax: 011-32-81-331-366 (leave out the dashes when dialing)

The Hamilton chapter now joins the Guelph and Quill Plains (Wynyard) chapters who have also written Mr. Magnette.

#StopCETA

Tags: chapters
[ http://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Hamilton chapter receives reply from Wallonia's minister-president about CETA

[ http://canadians.org/blog/hamilton-chap ... about-ceta ]

April 15, 2017 - 11:03 am

The Council of Canadians Hamilton chapter has received a reply from Paul Magnette, the minister-president of the French-speaking Belgian region of Wallonia.

Chapter activist Kathie Clark wrote Magnette on April 7 to express her support for his warning that Wallonia may not ratify the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Magnette replied to her on April 12.

The Globe and Mail has reported, "The trade deal between Canada and the European Union is facing a new challenge from the Belgium region of Wallonia which is threatening to block final ratification of the agreement. Wallonia First Minister Paul Magnette said in an interview that his government will not support the CETA trade deal when it comes up for ratification unless changes are made to how disputes are resolved. Mr. Magnette also said his government is challenging the legality of the dispute resolution mechanism in the European Court of Justice, which could take at least two years to rule."

In his email to Clark, Magnette says, "Wallonia has declared that if this future mechanism does not match its ambitions, its Parliament will reject the CETA ratification."

In order for CETA to be fully implemented, it needs to be ratified by 38 national and regional parliaments in Europe, including the Parliament of Wallonia.

To send a message to Magnette and the people of Wallonia to encourage their rejection of CETA, you can write:

Paul Magnette, Ministre-Président
Gouvernement wallon
Rue Mazy, 25-27
5100 Namur
BELGIUM
Email: Paul.Magnette@gov.wallonie.be
Fax: 011-32-81-331-366 (leave out the dashes when dialing)

In recent weeks, the Hamilton, Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, South Niagara and Quill Plains (Wynyard) chapters have written Magnette.

#StopCETA

Tags: chapters
[ https://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]


Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ https://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

South Niagara chapter receives reply from Wallonia's minister-president on CETA

[ http://canadians.org/blog/south-niagara ... ident-ceta ]

April 15, 2017 - 5:47 pm

The Council of Canadians South Niagara chapter has received an email Wallonia's minister-president Paul Magnette about the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

On April 12, the chapter wrote, "Those of us here in Canada who are familiar with CETA and the impacts of so-called 'free trade' stand with you in your appraisal of CETA. Jobs will be lost, inequality will increase, the ability of governments to act in the public interest will be profoundly diminished, and the benefits will go to large corporations. There is nothing in this agreement that will benefit the working people of Canada or Europe."

In an 1100-word reply sent on April 14, Magnette notes, "Your message of support reached me well, and I want to express how, together with very many other testimonies of confidence and sympathy, your support has helped strengthen my position and that of the Walloon government since last October."

With respect to one key issue, he says, "Private arbitration – which is unacceptable to us - was replaced by a dispute settlement mechanism between states and public investors whose form was clarified. This will be a public court, entirely composed of independent judges - similar to those of the Court of Justice of the European Union - and appointed by the European Council, on a proposition by the Member States."

He adds, "They will, moreover, be subject to a strict code of conduct preventing any conflict of interest before, during and after their term of office. States may further challenge the decisions of this court to an appeal court, with the same independence guarantees. A system will also be established to allow SMEs to access this mechanism."

And Magnette says, "In order to ensure the implementation of all these elements, the provisions on the dispute settlement mechanism will not come into force as long as all the national and regional parliaments ratification procedures are not completed. Wallonia has already indicated that if this future mechanism does not match its ambitions, the Walloon Parliament will reject the CETA ratification."

He also addresses issues relating to the right for states to legislate, regulatory cooperation, safeguarding public services, food security, and more.

Magnette concludes, "These changes, clarifications and dissipation of ambiguities, of which we know how dangerous they can be, were achieved by this 'small' Wallonia alone, with the unprecedented involvement of its parliament and through the vigilance and mobilization of the European civil society which did not find any other institutional relay. ...One thing is certain: this movement will stand. We introduced a new chapter on how to write treaties in the future. We have de facto imposed the obligation to do so democratically, in a much earlier debate with citizens."

On March 26, The Globe and Mail reported, "The trade deal between Canada and the European Union is facing a new challenge from the Belgium region of Wallonia which is threatening to block final ratification of the agreement. Wallonia First Minister Paul Magnette said in an interview that his government will not support the CETA trade deal when it comes up for ratification unless changes are made to how disputes are resolved. Mr. Magnette also said his government is challenging the legality of the dispute resolution mechanism in the European Court of Justice, which could take at least two years to rule."

To send a message to Magnette and the people of Wallonia with your concerns about CETA, you can write:

Paul Magnette, Ministre-Président
Gouvernement wallon
Rue Mazy, 25-27
5100 Namur
BELGIUM
Email: Paul.Magnette@gov.wallonie.be
Fax: 011-32-81-331-366 (leave out the dashes when dialing)

In recent weeks, the Hamilton, Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo and Quill Plains (Wynyard) chapters have also written Magnette.

#StopCETA

Tags: chapters
[ https://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog

Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ https://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Kitchener-Waterloo chapter receives reply from Magnette on CETA 'investment protection' mechanism

[ https://canadians.org/blog/kitchener-wa ... -mechanism ]

April 22, 2017 - 4:38 pm

The Council of Canadians Kitchener-Waterloo chapter has received an email reply from Paul Magnette, the minister-president of the Belgian region of Wallonia.

On April 10, chapter activist David Lubell wrote to Magnette stating, "We have tried many times and in many ways to get ministers and parliamentarians of the previous and current Canadian governments to actually look at the problems with this trade agreement that privileges corporate profits above our sovereign rights to environmental protections and local decision-making. ...Your firm analysis and opposition to this deal strengthens our resolve to continue to raise opposition to this deal on our side of the Atlantic Ocean."

On April 20, Magnette replied, "As you know, private arbitration is unacceptable to us. Thanks to the mobilization of Wallonia, it was replaced by a public court, entirely composed of independent judges. Moreover, they will be subject to a strict code of conduct preventing any conflict of interest. In order to ensure the implementation of these negotiated elements, the provisions regarding the dispute settlement mechanism will not enter into force as long as all parliaments ratification procedures are not completed. Wallonia has already declared that if this future mechanism does not match its ambitions, its Parliament will reject the CETA ratification."

In order for CETA to be fully implemented, it needs to be ratified by 38 national and regional parliaments in Europe, including the Parliament of Wallonia.

The Globe and Mail has reported, "The trade deal between Canada and the European Union is facing a new challenge from the Belgium region of Wallonia which is threatening to block final ratification of the agreement. Wallonia First Minister Paul Magnette said in an interview that his government will not support the CETA trade deal when it comes up for ratification unless changes are made to how disputes are resolved. Mr. Magnette also said his government is challenging the legality of the dispute resolution mechanism in the European Court of Justice, which could take at least two years to rule."

This European Law blog [ http://europeanlawblog.eu/2016/10/31/in ... y-the-ecj/ ] explains, "The issue of the compatibility of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and ICS (a form of ISDS) with the Treaties has been a contentious issue among EU law insiders for a while. Recently 101 law professors objected to ICS in an open letter because ICS is 'in strong tension with the rule of law and democratic principles enshrined in national constitutions and European law'. ...The European Association of Judges (representing 44 national associations of judges) and the German Association of Judges (representing 16 0000 German judges and public prosecutors) have opposed ICS inter alia on the ground that the system might not be compatible with EU law."

The Council of Canadians has been clear in its opposition to the Investment Court System (ICS) now incorporated into CETA.

Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow says, "ICS fails to require foreign investors – like everyone else, including domestic investors – to go to a country's domestic courts before seeking an international remedy. The proposed investment court system still gives a special status to foreign corporations by allowing them to challenge the laws that apply to everyone else through a special system outside established court systems."

Furthermore, the report Investment Court System [ https://canadians.org/blog/ics-reform-c ... challenges ] put to the test published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Corporate Europe Observatory, Friends of the Earth Europe, Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung, and the Transnational Institute found that ICS reform in CETA would still allow the most controversial ISDS challenges launched under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to proceed.

In recent weeks, the Hamilton, Guelph, South Niagara and Quill Plains (Wynyard) chapters have also written Magnette.

#StopCETA

Tags: chapters
[ https://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ https://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]