Sudbury: Resisting the Next Stage in 'Free Trade'

On December 17th there will be an event in Sudbury on resisting the latest stage in what gets spun as 'free trade', co-sponsored by the BC Stop TILMA Coalition, the Council of Canadians, and Upping the Anti. Topics covered will include the new inter-provincial agreement between B.C. and Alberta, called TILMA, which the Ontario provincial government wants in on, as well as the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership (or SPP) being negotiated among Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. I expect that the panellists will be presenting critiques coming from at least a couple of different angles, so it should be an opportunity for an interesting discussion.

Here are the details:

Resisting the Next Stage in 'Free Trade'

TILMA, Corporate Globalization and Democracy

Date: Monday, December 17, 2007
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: St.Andrew's Place, 4th Floor
Street: 111 Larch Street
City/Town: Sudbury, ON

What is TILMA?

It's the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement, and it's bad news.

TILMA is an interprovincial trade deal signed in secret by the premiers of BC and Alberta. And now the Ontario government wants in on it.

The deal extends privileges similar to those in NAFTA to corporations and individuals. Corporations can sue provincial governments and their official agencies for any regulation deemed harmful to investment.

TILMA was signed without any democratic process, without even consultation in the provincial legislatures and municipalities.

The Agreement creates far-reaching deregulations that will benefit corporations, while challenging governments’ right to create public policy. It eliminates the power of municipalities, local and regional governments to act in the best interest of their communities.

It occurs at the same time that the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) is being negotiated between the Canadian, Mexican and US governments which is also deepening ‘free’ trade as well as extending common security practices between the three states.

The speakers will be

Caelie Frampton, BC Stop TILMA Coalition,
Eduardo Sousa, Ontario-Quebec Regional Organizer, Council of Canadians
Gary Kinsman, Advisory Board of Upping the Anti

Free public event
This location is wheelchair accessible.

Come on out!