Beware government deals made secretly

(The Calgary Herald) - Before you go into the voting booth next week and do your part to help give Stephen Harper’s Conservatives a parliamentary majority, there’s something you need to think about.

Though underreported in the media, over the past few years Canada has been involved in disturbingly secretive negotiations aimed at further integrating our country with the United States.

The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America was officially launched in 2005, though there have been multiple efforts in the same vein by various governments and think tanks for a lot longer than that.

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Energy integration agenda hits speed bump: Mexicans vote in favour of public ownership

(Council of Canadians) - In a major rebuke to the Mexican government’s integrationist plans, on July 27th over 80 percent of voters rejected President Calderon’s plans for Mexico’s nationalized energy sector.  This vote which brought out large numbers of people is significant. 

It demonstrates a clear opposition to the market-based energy integration between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada being pursued by the North American Energy Working Group (NAEWG) under the auspices of the secretive Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP).  

Key components of NAEWG’s work includes supporting more privatization along with harmonization of regulations (potentially to the detriment of social and environmental priorities) and less public-control, more market (or corporate) control of oil and gas imports and exports. To read more about this significant vote and how it relates to the SPP, please refer to these articles.

The Battle over PEMEX: Mexicans vote to continue their public ownership
By Rick Arnolds, Common Frontiers Coordinator

Mexico’s Oil Referendum
Manuel Perez-Rocha, Associate Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies

READ MORE HERE [ Source: Council of Canadians, Andrea Harden, August 8, 2008 ]

NAFTA and SPP, Securing U.S. Access to Canadian Resources

(IntelStrike Blog Network) - Part of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) objectives include further removing barriers and securing access and control to Canadian resources. NAFTA has already seemingly granted the U.S. unlimited access to Canadian energy. The SPP will bring about the further deregulation and privatization of Canadian institutions. There are also fears that under the SPP, Canada will become nothing more then a resource colony. If this agenda is not stopped and a North American Union is allowed to manifest, it will bring about the complete raping of Canadian resources and a once proud and vibrant sovereign nation will cease to exist.

To the global elite pushing for deeper integration, Canadian resources are viewed as North American resources. Multinational corporations are the ones who will benefit from a North American resource pact. We are witnessing the further takeover of Canada, as their own government is in collusion with powerful private corporate interests. It is through NAFTA and the SPP that a North American energy strategy is being implemented, one that favors the United States. Canada needs an independent energy strategy that puts its future needs ahead of the U.S. and multinational corporations.

As it stands, Canada’s energy strategy is to essentially cater to U.S. demands while it is left importing fuel needed for its eastern provinces. Canada is the largest supplier of crude oil and natural gas to the United States. Canadian oil production is expected to reach the one-billion mark this year. There is talk of tripling its oil sands production by 2015. The Council of Canadians states that, “NAFTA prevents us from selling our energy resources at rates lower than we sell them in the U.S. We also can’t ever cut back on the proportion of energy we produce and sell to the United States, even in times when our country runs short.” The aim is to further expand oil and gas production in Canada. Through the SPP framework, the North American Competitiveness Council is further pushing Alberta tar sands development. Canadians need to be aware of plans to further integrate and hand over more control of its resources to the Americans and this also includes water.

READ MORE HERE [ Source: IntelStrike Blog Network, Dana Gabriel ]

Privatization of Mexican Oil Will Advance SPP Objectives

(IntelStrike Blog Network) - Mexican President Felipe Calderon has proposed sweeping reforms to its state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX). He denies that his reforms constitute privatization and claims they will serve to make PEMEX stronger. Many view his proposals as a threat to Mexican sovereignty and nothing more then an energy grab. It is through NAFTA and the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) that the U.S. is further securing access and control to Canadian and Mexican resources. Former presidential candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who lost to Calderon, is spearheading a movement to stop oil privatization and pushing for a referendum. Opponents of the reforms were able to force the Mexican Congress to hold a series of debates which ended on July 22. There is a swell of national sentiment spreading across the country as the majority of Mexicans wish to retain control of one of their last symbols of sovereignty.

Mexico’s oil industry was nationalized in 1938, and its constitution forbids foreign investment in the oil sector, including private corporate ownership. Calderon insists that his reforms are necessary for the very survival of the country. He describes PEMEX as broken and bankrupt, and believes that the only way to further develop any deepwater drilling is by opening it up to foreign investment. The reforms will allow for key components of PEMEX to be taken over by private companies. Opponents of the plan have called it backdoor privatization and fear it will lead to the complete takeover of the industry. If passed, the reforms will allow private companies to build refineries, transport oil, and own pipeline networks. It will open 37 of PEMEX’s 41divisions to private subcontractors. It has been reported that Halliburton already has a contract with PEMEX to drill for new wells and maintain pipelines. The move to privatize Mexican oil runs contrary to a worldwide trend to further nationalize oil reserves.

READ MORE HERE [ Source: IntelStrike Blog Network, Dana Gabriel ]

Bill C-51, Codex and the SPP

(IntelStrike.com) - On April 8, 2008, Canada’s Health Minister introduced Bill C-51 which proposed sweeping changes to the Food and Drugs Act. The Canadian government has since been forced to make amendments because of intense grassroots pressure. There are fears that this Bill could lead to some vitamins, herbs, minerals, and dietary supplements no longer being available in the country. Through the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), Canada, the U.S., and Mexico are already busy harmonizing food and drug regulations into a North American Union structure. Some have suggested that this Bill would also bring Canadian law into compliance with the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Bill C-51 has the potential to take away the rights of people to freely choose natural medicine as an alternative to expensive drug-based products and treatments.

Bill C-51 will further encroach on civil liberties and increase police state measures. There is reason for concern because of the Bills ambiguous language in regards to raids and seizures. It has been referred to as a police state bill masquerading as a health bill.  It will make it easier for Canadian officials to seize natural health products and remove them from store shelves. It grants inspectors the power to raid homes and businesses without a warrant and the power to seize bank accounts and property. Some might recall that in the early 90’s, the FDA engaged in paramilitary raids on American health food stores, holistic treatment centers, and other nutritional supplement businesses. This behavior created such a public outcry and backlash, leading Congress to pass the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) to protect the right of American consumers to purchase and use nutritional supplements.

READ MORE HERE [ Source: IntelStrike.com ]

Stop SPP Protest - Union Leader stops provocateurs

QUOTE from Video: “Peaceful protesters stop police provocateurs from starting a riot at the Stop the SPP protests in Montebello Quebec. The police admitted they were thier officers. CEP President Dave Coles confronts men with rocks and sticks.”

READ MORE HERE [ Source: Council of Canadians, YouTube.com, ManlyMedia.com ]

Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule Part one

QUOTE from Video: “This 10 minute video is a summary of the top ten reasons to oppose the two worst trade agreements in Canadian history, TILMA (the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement) and the SPP (the Security and Prosperity Partnership).”

READ MORE HERE [ Source: Council of Canadians Nanaimo, YouTube.com ]

Broad delegation of Canadian civil society groups to attend SPP counter-summit in New Orleans

While the Canadian, Mexican and American heads of state continue to discuss corporate priorities for North America behind closed doors at the fourth annual SPP summit in New Orleans next week, civil society from all three NAFTA countries will lay the groundwork for international cooperation of a more human kind that places the needs of communities, the environment and workers first.

READ MORE HERE

New Environics poll reveals Canadians reject SPP priorities

As Stephen Harper prepares to attend the North American leaders' summit on the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) in New Orleans next week, a new Environics Research poll shows that Canadians disagree with key elements of North American integration.

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North American Union: The SPP is a “hostile takeover” of democratic government and an end to the Rule of Law

Connie Fogal says the SPP is the “hostile takeover” of the apparatus of democratic government and an end to the “rule of law”. There has been a kind of coup d’état over the government operations of Canada, U.S.A. and Mexico.

The first formal step towards the NAU was NAFTA. Ron Pastor of the Council on Foreign Relations has affirmed that. The Canadian Action Party, a registered federal sovereigntist political party in Canada, began as a party in 1997 precisely because none of the mainstream parties were calling for the clear, outright, unequivocal abrogation of NAFTA, or for control of our national monetary system.

READ MORE HERE [ Source: GlobalResearch.ca ]

The SPP and Merging Military Command Structures

Portions of the Civil Assistance Plan (CAP) signed by the U.S.-Canadian military in mid-February were just recently posted on the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and Canada Command websites. The plan would allow for military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency, including one that does not involve a cross-border crisis. Some fear that this agreement could lead to foreign troops being used for gun confiscation and marital law. CAP, along with the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), are further advancing the merging of U.S.-Canadian military command structures and represent steps towards a North American Union.

In 2002, then U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, announced the creation of NORTHCOM, and boasted that it would have jurisdiction over all of North America. In an article by Michel Chossudovsky, he states the, “redesign of Canada’s defense system is being discussed behind closed doors, not in Canada, but at the Peterson Air Force base in Colorado, at the headquarters of US Northern Command (NORTHCOM).” He went on to say, “Under an integrated North American Command, a North American national security doctrine would be formulated.” In addition, this is taking place through the SPP and poses a serious threat to Canadian sovereignty and any resemblance of an independent foreign policy.

READ MORE HERE [ Source: GlobalResearch.ca ]

U.S. Bush administration allies want Canada along with francophone Quebec “erased” by 2010

The Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) which advises the U.S. Bush administration is calling for the “erasure” of Canada by 2010. Quebec as it exists today, in relation to its civil code, and other francophone cultural protections, is also to be “transformed” by 2010 under Anglo-American control. The Stephen Harper government reportedly further confirmed the terms of this “erasure” in Cancun, Mexico, under secondary provisions of the “Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America” (SPP). It is notable that neither “separatists” nor “federalists” in the current Quebec provincial elections have sought to debate the imminent destruction of the Quebec social and cultural fabric under an Anglo-American agenda.

READ MORE HERE… [ Source: The Canadian ]