NAFTA: POLL RESULTS - Bad deal? . . 77% say Walk away!

[Oscar]

POLL: If NAFTA results in bad deal for Canadians and the environment, 77 per cent say walk away

[ https://canadians.org/media/poll-if-naf ... -walk-away ]

Media Release September 20, 2017

Ottawa – As the third round of NAFTA negotiations start in Ottawa on Saturday, most Canadians want the government to walk away from the deal if it is not good for people and the environment.

According a poll conducted for the Council of Canadians by EKOS Research, 77 per cent of respondents said we should bolt if the NAFTA negotiations are leading to a bad deal for Canadians and the environment. [ https://canadians.org/sites/default/fil ... l-0917.pdf ]

Most Canadians – regardless of political leaning or region of the country – agreed with this statement: “In the event that NAFTA negotiations result in a bad deal for people and the environment, Canada should walk away from the deal.” Sixty-nine per cent of Conservatives, 77 per cent of Liberals, 80 per cent of Bloc Québécois, 81 per cent of NDP, and 90 per cent of Greens agreed with the statement. Almost half – 48 per cent – strongly agreed with the statement.

“Many NAFTA proponents are saying that the deal is too big to fail, that there is no alternative, but people do not agree with that argument,” says Maude Barlow, Honorary Chairperson of the Council of Canadians.

The poll also asked people what they thought about Chapter 11, or the provisions which allow corporations to sue states over policy changes, about energy proportionality, which locks Canada into exporting percentages of energy to the U.S., and about protecting water in the deal.

In the poll:

• 80 per cent said that clauses in NAFTA that make water vulnerable to export and privatization should be removed from the agreement
• 70 per cent said that we must remove energy proportionality provisions which lock Canada into maintaining energy export quotas to the United States
• 63 per cent said that Chapter 11 provisions that allow corporations to sue states should be eliminated from the deal.

“NAFTA has gaping problems and Canadians are asking the government to fix them. Furthermore, most people don’t want the Trudeau government to sacrifice water, the environment, public services and democracy on the altar of NAFTA,” says Sujata Dey, Trade Campaigner for the Council of Canadians.

The poll of 1,043 adults in Canada was conducted online from September 7-13, 2017 by EKOS Research Inc. and has been statistically weighted to ensure the sample’s composition reflects that of the actual population of Canada according to census data. A probability sample of this size would have an accuracy of plus or minus 3.03 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

For more information on the Council’s NAFTA campaign, visit: [ https://canadians.org/nafta ] -30-

For more information or to arrange interviews:

Dylan Penner, Media Officer, Council of Canadians, 613-795-8685, dpenner@canadians.org. Twitter: @CouncilOfCDNs. Unsubscribe from e-mails.

Questions:

1. If a federal election was called today which party would you vote for?
a. Liberal
b. Conservative
c. NDP
d. Green
e. Bloc Québécois
f. Undecided

2. How much do you support the following statement: NAFTA allows Mexican and U.S. corporations and investors in Canada to sue the Canadian government for changes in policies and laws that negatively impact their profits or investments, even if these changes are done to protect the environment or people's health. This NAFTA provision should be eliminated during renegotiations.
a. Strongly agree
b. Somewhat agree
c. Neither agree or disagree
d. Somewhat disagree
e. Strongly disagree

3. How much do you support the following statement: NAFTA includes an energy proportionality clause that forces Canada to export its energy resources to the U.S. at a percentage of what it exported in previous years. This means Canada cannot cut back its energy exports because of energy shortages, or make energy decisions based on its commitments under the Paris climate agreement. This provision should be eliminated during renegotiations.
a. Strongly agree
b. Somewhat agree
c. Neither agree or disagree
d. Somewhat disagree
e. Strongly disagree

4. How much do you support the following statement: Water is defined as a tradeable good or service in NAFTA which makes Canada's water vulnerable to bulk exports and privatization. Water should be removed from NAFTA.
a. Strongly agree
b. Somewhat agree
c. Neither agree or disagree
d. Somewhat disagree
e. Strongly disagree
f. undecided

5. How much do you support the following statement: In the event that NAFTA negotiations result in a bad deal for Canadians and the environment, Canada should walk away from the deal.
a. Strongly agree
b. Somewhat agree
c. Neither agree or disagree
d. Somewhat disagree
e. Strongly disagree
f. undecided

Media contact

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Dylan Penner, Media Officer
Cell: (613) 795-8685
Office: (613) 233-4487, ext. 249
E-mail: dpenner@canadians.org

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