'NAFTA-plus' talks aim for security pact + COC critical references
Senior business and political leaders from Canada, the United States and Mexico are joining forces to establish a blueprint for apowerhouse North American trading bloc to take on the world, shieldedby a Fortress America-style defence perimeter.
The trinational task force, which has the full backing of the three governments, has been charged with creating a road map toward acontinent-wide customs-free zone with a common approach to trade,energy, immigration, law enforcement and security that would virtually eliminate existing national borders.
The idea of a "NAFTA plus" perimeter, including a continental energy pact, was first proposed by Paul Cellucci, the U.S. Ambassador, several years ago. While Mr. Cellucci said the United States had no interest in a comprehensive European Union-style economic and political union, he said steps need to be taken to make it easier for the free flow of commerce and people in North America.
See also
[1] CROSSING THE LINE A CITIZEN'S INQUIRY ON CANADA-U.S. RELATIONS
www.canadians.org
"Deep integration" or "assimilation" with the United States is largely being promoted by Canada's corporate elite. While there is little public awareness of this issue, lobby groups are already promoting the idea in the U.S. It is time to reflect on the current state of Canada-U.S. relations and the impact on our Canadian identity, before we move even further down this road.[2] http://www.canadians.org/documents/DI_Tour_Sessions.pdf
Colony or Country: The Future of Canada - U.S. Relations Strategy
Sessions Report
As part of the campaign against the so-called "deep integration" (more on that name below), the Council of Canadians embarked on a seven-city tour titled Colony or Country: The Future of Canada-U.S. Relations.[3] The Canada We Want What's the Big Idea? [25 page report by Maude Barlow]
www.canadians.orgThe same economic and political elite that advanced the Canada-U.S. free trade agenda 20 years ago is now pushing an even more dangerous agenda. The C.D. Howe Institute calls it a « Big Idea. » The Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) calls it the « North American Security and Prosperity Initiative. »
The new deal envisaged by these powerful right-wing think tanks and lobby groups, and supported by various newspaper editorial boards and members of the Liberal and Conservative parties, including Mulroney, would include a greater integration of the Canadian Armed Forces into U.S. military strategies, new security measures in Canada akin to those implemented by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and an iron-clad guarantee of an increasing supply of Canadian energy resources to the United States.
[4] 2: The "Big Idea", the "Grand Bargain", Our Next PM and the Vanishing Country by Mel Hurtig
http://www.canadiandimension.mb.ca/extra/d0912mh.htm
The 72nd Annual Couchiching Conference
Orillia, Ontario, August 8th, 2003Only the most « of the most » fail to understand that increasing American ownership and control and increasing economic, military and other integration will inevitably lead to increasing across-the-board policy harmonization. And, to repeat, it won't be the Americans harmonizing to Canadian policies and standards. The progressive erosion of Canadian sovereignty will be almost impossible to reverse. The ability of Canadians to act in their own best interests will diminish daily. The vitally important and valued differences between Canada and the United States will soon disappear.
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http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=cfac5878-d471-4e58-9e9d-8775291a5b8c
NATIONAL POST
Latest News'NAFTA-plus' talks aim for security pact
Continental customs, energy, immigration policies on agenda of group co-chaired by Manley
Robert Fife
CanWest News Service
Saturday, October 16, 2004OTTAWA - Senior business and political leaders from Canada, the United States and Mexico are joining forces to establish a blueprint for a powerhouse North American trading bloc to take on the world, shielded by a Fortress America-style defence perimeter.
The trinational task force, which has the full backing of the three governments, has been charged with creating a road map toward a continent-wide customs-free zone with a common approach to trade, energy, immigration, law enforcement and security that would virtually eliminate existing national borders.
John Manley, the former Liberal deputy prime minister, will co-chair the task force and be joined on the panel by William Weld, the former Republican governor of Massachusetts, and Pedro Aspe, a former Mexican finance minister.
The task force will report to the prestigious U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, and received the blessing of Anne McLellan, Canada's Public Safety Minister, and Tom Ridge, the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, during a meeting in Ottawa this week.
Ms. McLellan will be in Toronto on Monday for the first round of the task force hearings as the first step in creating a NAFTA-plus regional trading bloc to compete with the European Union, China, Japan and India.
"The European Union has expanded to 25 members and China and Indian have become major economic factors," said Mr. Manley. "At the same time the need to build co-operative security relationships has become more critical in the aftermath of 9/11. North America cannot but move forward and this initiative ... provides a road map for the future."
Former prime minister Jean Chretien was opposed to the idea of a North American defence perimeter. He feared a loss of Canadian sovereignty because security and economic decisions would in some instances be made jointly with a partner, the United States, that is 10 times the size of Canada.
A task force source said Paul Martin has encouraged the initiative, though the Prime Minister would not be able to act on its recommendations unless the Liberals win a majority government.
A decade after NAFTA was signed, the task force will examine the benefits of a customs union with the United States and Mexico to accelerate trade and address continental security. This would require common regulatory and administrative solutions.
"Maximizing economic growth and development throughout this century --
in other words, creating the greatest wealth for the greatest numbers — will require us to abandon zero-sum thinking," Mr. Weld said.
The task force is expected to propose a continental energy accord as well as special entry points for overseas travellers to North American while opening up most border crossings to relatively free passage of goods and citizens.
Dismantling the borders would require increased co-operation with law enforcement in Canada, the United States and Mexico, and similar policies on travel visas, immigration and refugees.
The idea of a "NAFTA plus" perimeter, including a continental energy pact, was first proposed by Paul Cellucci, the U.S. Ambassador, several years ago.
...Continued
While Mr. Cellucci said the United States had no interest in a comprehensive European Union-style economic and political union, he said steps need to be taken to make it easier for the free flow of commerce and people in North America.
Brian Mulroney, the former Conservative prime minister and author of the Canada-US. free trade deal and NAFTA, has also proposed a customs union and new security arrangements for the continent.
Other prominent members of the task force include former U.S. ambassadors Gordon Giffin and Tom Niles, former Tory finance minister Michael Wilson, Tom d'Aquino, president of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, and former Alberta treasurer Jim Dinning.
Their report is scheduled to be released next summer. © National Post 2004
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