NAFTA: Challenges at 3rd round of talks in Ottawa

[Oscar]

The Council of Canadians & allies challenge NAFTA at 3rd round of talks in Ottawa

[ https://canadians.org/blog/council-cana ... lks-ottawa ]

September 23, 2017 - 5:06 pm

The Council of Canadians is working with civil society allies to both challenge the existing North American Free Trade Agreement and put forward a positive vision for a renegotiated NAFTA 2.0 as negotiators from Canada, the United States and Mexico are in Ottawa for a third round of talks (September 23-27).

Wednesday September 20, 9:30 am
The Council of Canadians released an Ekos Research poll that found: 76% of respondents say if the NAFTA negotiations result in a bad deal for Canadians and the environment, Canada should walk away from the deal; 63% believe Chapter 11 should be eliminated; 70% don't want the energy proportionality provision; and 80% want the clauses that make water vulnerable to export removed.

Wednesday September 20, 9:41 am
Council of Canadians climate justice campaigner Andrea Harden-Donahue posted a blog on the 5 reasons climate activists need to join the fight for trade justice. [ https://canadians.org/blog/5-reasons-cl ... de-justice ]

Wednesday September 20, 4:10 pm
I posted this critical commentary on the Five things Trudeau should be thinking about re: the negotiation of NAFTA 2.0.
[ https://canadians.org/blog/five-things- ... n-nafta-20 ]

Wednesday September 20, 4:30 pm
Council of Canadians trade campaigner Sujata Dey presented to the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade. She told the committee, "Environmental policies have been threatened by Chapter 11 lawsuits and by energy proportionality clauses. It is impossible for the government to talk about 'progressive trade' when there are no plans to remove those clauses."

Friday September 22, 10:15 am
We partnered with the Canadian Labour Congress, Common Frontiers, Réseau québécois sur l’intégration continentale, and the Trade Justice Network to present a quadri-national statement on NAFTA to NDP trade critic Tracey Ramsey. We also joined with Leadnow to have a blimp at Parliament Hill for this presentation.

Friday September 22, 1 pm
With our allies, we then participated in a civil society summit that shared critical analysis on NAFTA with the broader public.

Friday September 22, 4:30 pm
We joined in solidarity with a Unifor rally outside the Mexican Embassy that highlighted the importance of labour protections in a NAFTA 2.0.

Friday September 22, 6 pm
Council of Canadians honorary chairperson Maude Barlow is quoted in this Canadian Press news report picked up by the National Post. The article opens with: "An agreement to have Mexico join a NAFTA clause governing oil exports may be one of the first significant products of the renegotiation talks this weekend in Ottawa."
[ http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/ca ... ith-mexico ]

Friday September 22, 9 pm
Leadnow projected messages - with our logo, the Trade Justice Network and Common Frontiers' logos - on iconic buildings in downtown Ottawa, including the Supreme Court of Canada.

Saturday September 23, 10 am
There was a full-day social movement gathering to share political information, analysis and strategies for collective action, as well as knowledge sharing workshops on understanding NAFTA and how to lobby negotiators.

Stay tuned for more to come next week!

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