[tritium]

Kill NAFTA or kiss our water, medicare and Canada goodbye...

From the Canada Action Party.

Our distinguishing feature is that we have specific plans to implement our platform. In particular, on the first prong, we will abrogate NAFTA, and the FTA, stop negotiations on the FTAA refusing to enter same, and return to GATT for trade with the U.S.. On the second prong, we will reclaim the Bank of Canada using the legal power and authority still in existence to assume citizen control through government of our nation's money and debt, to return money to being our servant, not our master. No other party offers both of these solutions to Canada's condition. Both of these solutions are direct violations of the commands of the unelected, unrepresentative, undemocratic International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the WTO

Source

Is NAFTA this much of a Danger to Canada??

[Proculation]

The Canada is the country that had received the most advantages from NAFTA. The second is Mexico and the last, the USA.

It would be very stupid to stop NAFTA for Canada.

[hurley_108]

US claims Canadian lumber companies are unfirly subsidized. NAFTA panel after NAFTA panel says no, Canada is doing nothing wrong. US ignores them every time, and finally Harper sells Canada sort to the tune of $1 billion in monies we're owed butthe US gets to keep and restricts our ability to look after our own interests by locking us in. Advantage: USA.

New Brunswick tries to do something about ridiculous auto insurance rates by bringing in public insurance. American insurance companies say Hey! You can't do that! You're not allowed to look after your own people by undercutting us with a cheaper system! We're gonna get you with NAFTA Chapter 11. Advantage: USA.

Alberta's facing a severe water shortage. One way proposed to solve the problem would be to declare water a commodity and charge for its use. Problem is, if it's declared a commodity, the US can say hey, we want some too, and NAFTA says we'd have to sell to them, making the problem worse, not better.

O ya, NAFTA's GREAT for Canada.

[grainfedprairieboy]

The water issue of NAFTA.

1. No where in NAFTA does it say that Canada must sell water and all three governments are quoted as saying so.

2. All mention of water in any TA specifically refers to water as a "product". A product must be manufactured, harvested, designed, modified, upgraded etc in order to become a product and thus a saleable commodity. Oil or water in the ground is considered a "potential product".

3. Canada is the largest source of fresh water in the world and probably contains the most arrogant people on the planet when measured against the water debate. That we would fight vehemently to pump billions of gallons of fresh water into the Hudson's Bay every hour and thus being rendered wasted rather then export this at the source to others in the world in order to better their lives makes a mockery of our sanctimonious claims of being good global citizens.

4. It makes good sense to allow business to manage the resource and for Canadians to profit from it. Business's who depend on the watershed will manage the resource far better then our governments ever have. I only have to point to New Brunswick that has seen its water table virtually destroyed in only the past half century.

5. If the world really wants Canada's water it will simply come and take it.

6. Knowing full well that water will continue to become an issue with each passing decade Canada can use its water resources to exert our influence on other countries. Think of the Middle East and oil. If Saudi Arabia refused to sell it we would have joined a coalition and went and took it. Instead they are rich and use their resource to influence world prices and economies to their benefit while at the same time taking their profits and funding billions yearly into islamofascism.

7. There is a stupid myth in Canada that we must sell the Americans our products and commodities at a rate less then we sell domestically and that the appetite for these products must first be satisfied abroad while what (if any) scraps remain is left for us. What hogwash! There are rules regarding tariffs and subsidies to ensure the fair flow of goods but how this ridiculous concept wove itself into the fabric of the Canadian left I’ll never understand.

8. Profit is not a dirty word. `

[hurley_108]

grainfedprairieboy grainfedprairieboy:

The water issue of NAFTA.

1. No where in NAFTA does it say that Canada must sell water and all three governments are quoted as saying so.

2. All mention of water in any TA specifically refers to water as a "product". A product must be manufactured, harvested, designed, modified, upgraded etc in order to become a product and thus a saleable commodity. Oil or water in the ground is considered a "potential product".

3. Canada is the largest source of fresh water in the world and probably contains the most arrogant people on the planet when measured against the water debate. That we would fight vehemently to pump billions of gallons of fresh water into the Hudson's Bay every hour and thus being rendered wasted rather then export this at the source to others in the world in order to better their lives makes a mockery of our sanctimonious claims of being good global citizens.

4. It makes good sense to allow business to manage the resource and for Canadians to profit from it. Business's who depend on the watershed will manage the resource far better then our governments ever have. I only have to point to New Brunswick that has seen its water table virtually destroyed in only the past half century.

5. If the world really wants Canada's water it will simply come and take it.

6. Knowing full well that water will continue to become an issue with each passing decade Canada can use its water resources to exert our influence on other countries. Think of the Middle East and oil. If Saudi Arabia refused to sell it we would have joined a coalition and went and took it. Instead they are rich and use their resource to influence world prices and economies to their benefit while at the same time taking their profits and funding billions yearly into islamofascism.

7. There is a stupid myth in Canada that we must sell the Americans our products and commodities at a rate less then we sell domestically and that the appetite for these products must first be satisfied abroad while what (if any) scraps remain is left for us. What hogwash! There are rules regarding tariffs and subsidies to ensure the fair flow of goods but how this ridiculous concept wove itself into the fabric of the Canadian left I’ll never understand.

8. Profit is not a dirty word. `

Look, if we open up a market for water so that it may be bought and sold it becomes a good, and NAFTA says we have to allow the US access to that water.

$1:

Article 309: Import and Export Restrictions

1. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Party may adopt or maintain any prohibition or restriction on the importation of any good of another Party or on the exportation or sale for export of any good destined for the territory of another Party, except in accordance with Article XI of the GATT, including its interpretative notes, and to this end Article XI of the GATT and its interpretative notes, or any equivalent provision of a successor agreement to which all Parties are party, are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement.

Article XI of the GATT basically says you can't use quotas to restrict imports and exports, only duities.

So, sure, at present, we're not required to sell them water because, at present, it's not a good.

[Zipperfish]

NAFTA lacks any decent enforcement mechanisms. We just challenge various tribunal rulings repeatedly, send it to the WTO and then play the WTO against NAFTA and we can keep the debate going on forever.

If the US needs our water they will just come in and take it on their terms, NAFTA or no NAFTA. The best Canada can hope for is to give it to the US on terms favourable to us, at least in the current geopolitical context.

$1:

Canada is the largest source of fresh water in the world and probably contains the most arrogant people on the planet when measured against the water debate. That we would fight vehemently to pump billions of gallons of fresh water into the Hudson's Bay every hour and thus being rendered wasted rather then export this at the source to others in the world in order to better their lives makes a mockery of our sanctimonious claims of being good global citizens.

What is this all about?

[Robodoon]

Todays "Free Trade" isn't free, it is controlled trade for the Rich. Its based on Third Way, ie Communism. Its purpuse is destruction.

$1:

"Free trade breaks up old nationalities...In a word, the free trade system hastens the social revolution. Gentlemen, I am in favor of free trade"

Karl Marx 1848

[tritium]

Robodoon Robodoon:

Todays "Free Trade" isn't free, it is controlled trade for the Rich. Its based on Third Way, ie Communism. Its purpuse is destruction.

$1:

"Free trade breaks up old nationalities...In a word, the free trade system hastens the social revolution. Gentlemen, I am in favor of free trade"

Karl Marx 1848

Great Los Angeles just outlawed your neighborhood pharmacist, so you come here.

[BartSimpson]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

NAFTA lacks any decent enforcement mechanisms.

Ah, I see you've never heard of Maurice Strong.

[ridenrain]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

$1:

Canada is the largest source of fresh water in the world and probably contains the most arrogant people on the planet when measured against the water debate. That we would fight vehemently to pump billions of gallons of fresh water into the Hudson's Bay every hour and thus being rendered wasted rather then export this at the source to others in the world in order to better their lives makes a mockery of our sanctimonious claims of being good global citizens.

What is this all about?

I's say it's about one of the funniest and most truthfull things said today.

[Clogeroo]

I think we should work to diversify our trade outside of North America.

[BartSimpson]

Clogeroo Clogeroo:

I think we should work to diversify our trade outside of North America.

Canada already imports more Asians and muslims than Americans - and you export more Canadians to the USA than to any other country - so what else do you want?

[Zipperfish]

ridenrain ridenrain:

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

$1:

Canada is the largest source of fresh water in the world and probably contains the most arrogant people on the planet when measured against the water debate. That we would fight vehemently to pump billions of gallons of fresh water into the Hudson's Bay every hour and thus being rendered wasted rather then export this at the source to others in the world in order to better their lives makes a mockery of our sanctimonious claims of being good global citizens.

What is this all about?

I's say it's about one of the funniest and most truthfull things said today.

Yes, but what is in reference to?

[grainfedprairieboy]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

ridenrain ridenrain:

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

$1:

Canada is the largest source of fresh water in the world and probably contains the most arrogant people on the planet when measured against the water debate. That we would fight vehemently to pump billions of gallons of fresh water into the Hudson's Bay every hour and thus being rendered wasted rather then export this at the source to others in the world in order to better their lives makes a mockery of our sanctimonious claims of being good global citizens.

What is this all about?

I's say it's about one of the funniest and most truthfull things said today.

Yes, but what is in reference to?

Canadians tend to take a moral high ground position globally. We see ourselves as socially progressive, environmentally conscious and the quintessential peacekeepers that other nations should try to aspire to be. A great number of us are even willing to sacrifice the country itself and our lifestyle through Kyoto in order to improve the lives of others at our expense.

With that, it is amazing that we would rather see water dumped into the Hudson Bay and salineated rather then tanker it and sell it to others improving the quality of life, preventing wars…..whiter teeth, fresher breath….hell, the list of benefits goes on and on.

Anyway, I thought the sign at the base of the CN tower reads:

Give us your terrorists, your homosexuals,
Your huddled masses yearning for welfare free
The fully clothed bathers from your ocean shores
Send these, the anti Americans, the unassimilateable to me
I lift my lamp beside the ever shrinking taxpayer funded golden door – (And don’t worry about the proper paperwork)