ANOTHER CATACLYSMIC TRADE DEAL

Steve Kannon in the Woolwich Observer published this report titled "Sold a bill of goods: trade deals benefit a few, while most of us take the hit". Steve points out how NAFTA back in the 1980's effectively killed manufacturing in Ontario as well as in the U.S. heartland. CETA or the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union will do the same thing again. Steve bashes the Harper governments hiding of facts and figures that show the trouble in store for most Canadians because of these trade agreements.

Municipalities are not impressed with having to put tenders out for international companies to do local work including infrastructure contracts. The Council of Canadians are up in arms regarding our water resources being corporatized and sold to the highest bidder. Steve's biggest criticism is the behind closed doors negotiating and horse trading that is going on. These kinds of deals rarely benefit the majority of citizens despite whatever lies our politicians tell us.

Steve also suggests that it is government deregulation by stealth. Governments become handcuffed by terms in these trade deals which basically force governments to back off regulating industries. Steve also believes that these deals are corporate friendly ones basically giving corporations more power at all levels. The levers of power end up being transferred from public hands to private hands. This is the legacy of deregulation and world wide globalization.