NOW Toronto: Dismal deal is more about dismantling govt than about lifting Canada out of recession

[marmar]

Perils of the pact
Dismal deal is more about dismantling government than it is about lifting Canada out of recession

By Wayne Roberts


Julian Assange needs to be free. We could really use him here in the new year to create some WikiLeaks buzz around a series of undercover trade deals that will lock Canada into a neo-con economy no matter who wins the next few federal elections.

As we go about our New Year’s distractions, discussions leading to an all-embracing “bilateral” deal covering Canada and 26 European countries are into their fifth and near-final round, part of a package of some 50 free trade deals.

“In just four years we have negotiated free trade agreements with eight countries,” Minister of International Trade Peter Van Loan boasted a few months back.

Canada, he said, will be the only country to sign deals with both Europe and the U.S. (“Look who I’m playing with, Mama!”) As a result, he said, in “this year’s Economic Freedom Of The World index, Canada maintained its position as a leader” of free trade.

At this point I make two confessions of ignorance. First, I remember when Canada used to win awards as the best country to live in, but I knew nothing about the Economic Freedom Of The World index. It appears this gold standard of indexes is published by the right-wing Fraser Institute. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=178506

[rurallib]

1. amazing how the neo-cons can manipulate the laws

even Canada is not immune.

[xchrom]

2. recommend

[snagglepuss]

3. to read later