Sandra Finley

2017-05-21 Canada, other countries will move forward on new Trans-Pacific Partnership after U.S. withdrawal. CP, Toronto Sun

Trade Deals, PPPs, Integration Canada-U.S. No Responses »

Jun 262017

http://www.torontosun.com/2017/05/21/canada-other-countries-will-move-forward-on-new-trans-pacific-partnership-after-us-withdrawal

Maija Kappler, THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada and 10 other countries agreed this weekend to re-evaluate the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the controversial trade deal that has been assumed dead since the U.S. pulled out in January.

However a Canadian group opposed to the TPP says the deal should not be revived.

Trade officials said the deal would change significantly without American involvement, although leaders from the 11 remaining countries are still figuring out what a revised trade plan would look like.

In its current form, the partnership requires U.S. participation before it can go into effect. But a revised TPP wouldn’t be as simple as taking the U.S. out of the existing deal: each of the 11 remaining countries will have to re-evaluate its own trade needs absent of American involvement.

Ministers attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) in Hanoi, Vietnam this weekend discussed taking another look at the terms of the deal. Officials from the countries involved, which include Australia, Malaysia, Mexico, and Singapore, among others, have agreed to present assessments to their leaders when they meet for an annual APEC summit in Vietnam in November, which will also include U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Since the U.S withdrawal, Japan and New Zealand have been spearheading efforts to revive the deal. Both countries have ratified the agreement and moved forward on legislation related to the deal. But Canadian officials stress that even the countries most enthusiastic about the previous agreement understand that it must be significantly altered before it can move forward.

New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay said the remaining countries are open to others joining provided they accept the trade agreement’s high standards on labour and environmental protection. He said the door remains open to the U.S., even after President Donald Trump withdrew from the pact in January, saying he prefers bilateral free trade deals.

Supporters of the agreement argue that opening the Canadian economy to foreign markets could benefit sectors including forestry, manufacturing and agriculture, especially production of canola, beef and pork. But there are also concerns about intellectual property provisions, including patent extensions, as well as the potential for job loss within Canada.

Sujata Dey, trade campaigner for the social action organization The Council of Canadians, called the TPP “a huge corporate power grab” that should be abandoned completely rather than re-worked. The group takes particular issue with the policy’s investor-state dispute settlement, which allows companies to sue governments over any regulations that reduce their profits.

“These trade agreements are old-school because our world problems have changed,” Dey said, citing environmental crises. “Until we stop copying and cutting the old trade agreement that we’ve been doing for the last 30 years, it’s not going to be a trade agreement that works for our new reality.”

In response, a Liberal government official who did not want to be named indicated that the concerns of Canadians will be taken into account in formulating a new deal. Trying to sell a new version of the TPP to the public that doesn’t include free and progressive fair trade would be an uphill battle for the federal government, he said.

The China-led 16-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will meet Monday in Hanoi to further discussions on a separate deal seen as an alternative to the TPP. It is expected to be finalized by the end of this year.

With files from the Associated Press

2017-06-23 Big news on NAFTA

Bank of Canada vs Canada Infrastructure Bk, Banksters, Privatization & Trade Deals, COMER, Trade Deals, PPPs, Integration Canada-U.S. 3 Responses »

Jun 262017

Banksters: Index

RE Re-negotiation of NAFTA (1994, Jan.1), triggered by the Trump Administration on May 17th, 2017:

90 day Notice, required under American law for the Administration’s negotiation of a trade deal, was given by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer

to Congress, May 17, 2017.

Re-negotiation between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada cannot begin until at minimum, 90 days after May 17 (August 18).

June 21, Trade Rep Lighthizer softened earlier statements by Trump. Trump had demanded that negotiations be completed by the end of the year. Lighthizer:

“We’re certainly not going to have a bad agreement to save time… My hope is that we can get it done by the end of the year, but there are a lot of people who think that’s completely unrealistic.”

Complication for pro-NAFTA entities: Mexico’s presidential election in July 2018. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the current front-runner in the polls, is a populist, left-wing NAFTA critic.

DEADLINE, INPUT TO CANADIAN GOVERNMENT, JULY 18th.

The Liberals succumbed to public pressure: submissions from the public will be received by Global Affairs Canada until July 18.

BTW: I think it’s important to know WHO our representatives are (e.g. the Simon Reisman story in the original NAFTA). WHO is the Director General of Global Affairs Canada? scroll down at http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=19639.

Hi Dave,

To send a submission re re-negotiation of NAFTA, the link is: a quick and easy form letter

Click on it, then partway down on the left side you’ll see “SUBJECT” and the content of the email.

You can make changes to it, or just send it the way it is.

Fill in your information and then hit the “submit” at the bottom.

– – – – – – – –

Subject: Big news on NAFTA

APPENDED, from Maude Barlow, Council of Canadians. You’ll see a link – – it’s easy to ADD YOUR WEIGHT by just clicking in. There is a deadline. July 18. And it is Big News.

As you will know, Trump has opened re-negotiation of NAFTA. From the earlier history of NAFTA and trade deals, beware the snakes.

Skip this, if you already know it: The Trade Deals are doing a number on us. (FTA = Free Trade Agreement)

Not familiar #1? NAFTA Chapter 11 (Investor-State Dispute Settlement, ISDS)

2015-01-14 FTA’s Chapter 11 Makes Canada Most-Sued Country Under Free Trade Tribunals, Huffington Post

Not familiar #2? a nasty tale. Water and the FTA.

All the drafts of the FTA included an Exemption for Water, at the insistence of Canadians. What happened? Artificial hype – – the deal HAS to be signed by midnite, or it all collapses. Convenient – – next day, people going through the text of the signed agreement cannot find the Exemption for Water. – – oh! At the 11^th hour it had to be abandoned, otherwise the Americans would not sign the deal.

Simon Reisman was the chief negotiator for Canada under Conservative PM Mulroney, the men responsible for giving away the free trade Exemption on Water.

BUT THEN! Reisman addressed the Old Boys’ Club in central Canada, telling them of the riches to be had by selling water to the U.S. His words were recorded in the book, “To the Last Drop”, 1986, by Michael Keating. Keating was a Globe & Mail reporter with an international reputation for the quality of his work.

Keating put a damper – dump on the drinking and dining (celebration of the “disappeared” exemption for water?) in the club of the oligarchy. Rest assured that he subsequently suffered for his transgression, he was punished.

(I read Keating’s book when we were fighting to stop the boondoggle Meridian Dam in Saskatchewan – – because it was so obviously a boondoggle for tax-payers. (2006-04-27 Water. Wrap-up statement, Proposed Meridian Dam. Battle won.)

At the time, I hadn’t a clue about the role of a Meridian Dam in water diversion to the U.S. and the offering of “equity interests” in water. Lake Athabasca lies on the northern border of Saskatchewan, in the watershed that drains via the Mackenzie River to the Beaufort Sea. The plan is for that water to be re-directed, to flow south through a series of dams in Saskatchewan to the U.S. border, and on down into the U.S.

Earlier, the Rafferty-Alameda Dam had been rammed through without (required by law) an environmental impact assessment, by the same Conservative Government (PM Mulroney) that removed the exemption for water. We called that dam a boondoggle; it didn’t make any sense to us, at that time.

REF: 2008-02-17 Water: Highgate Dam in context of water shortages in the U.S., response to Maggie. Includes water under Free Trade Agreement, etc.

From To the Last Drop: our Chief negotiator for NAFTA, Reisman, told the Oligarchy that the balance of power on the North American continent would shift because Canada has the water resources that the U.S. wants. The infrastructure costs seem insurmountable, but the Americans want the water so badly, that they’ll cover those costs (he got that wrong – – Canadians will be paying Infrastructure costs, if all goes according to plan). He concluded: all we have to do is to —

put a meter on a tap at the 49th parallel and collect the royalties (and dividends if you are an investor) as the water flows south.

I tracked down Keating, after reading his book (mentioned) while we were fighting the Meridian Dam, because I had some questions.

Water diversions take water from one watershed and move it to another. I didn’t ask Keating about the Rafferty-Alameda, because I did not yet understand that, in addition to (talked about in the book)

the Grand Canal to re-direct water, James Bay down through the Great Lakes to the American east (taking water from the Hudson Bay drainage basin)
the Rocky Mountain Trench to send water to the American west (The Columbia River, in the southern part of the Trench, flows south from BC into Washington state, goes west to form most of the border between Washington and Oregon, before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia has the greatest flow of any North American river entering the Pacific Ocean.

In addition to these two diversions, there are plans to divert from the (I don’t believe it is mentioned in To the Last Drop):

Mackenzie River, by re-directing water from Lake Athabasca in northern Saskatchewan south through a system of dams to the U.S. (diversion from Beaufort Sea Watershed).

One of Reisman’s taps at the 49th parallel, is the Rafferty-Alameda Dam. It is in place. It did not make sense to us. But it made sense to Mulroney, Reisman, and their cronies.

AND NOW! The Liberals have enlisted Mulroney’s assistance in the re-negotiation of NAFTA! 2017-06-16 Mulroney’s advice to Trudeau on NAFTA: head down and mouth shut, Globe&Mail

The Canadian Establishment and the Corporate interests south of the 49^th, were salivating and still are, over the “blue gold” freed up by dropping the exemption for water in NAFTA. (Oh gee whiz! we had to do it if we wanted to get that deal.)

The outrageously expensive infrastructure (large dams, canals, etc.) to deliver the water for “equity interests” and exploitation, will be paid for by citizens. Privatize the benefits, and hand-off the costs.

You will see when you add your weight to the NAFTA resistance in Canada – – a specific “request” re water. We maintain our civility.

Not familiar #3? Recent Trade Deals will end publicly-owned, central banks (the Bank of Canada). We are to be completely dependent on the international banking cartel (interest rates 9% instead of 1%, with user fees on top of interest – – the Canada Infrastructure Bank). At a time when Canadians are to purchase $188 billion dollars of Infrastructure over a 12-year period.

Fiona McMurran wrote a good letter to Senator Pratte. (2017-06-13 Banksters & Infrastructure Spending: Letter to Senator – – once we privatize public assets, under CETA rules, we cannot reverse the privatization if it turns out to be detrimental)

IMPORT CLAUSES FROM ONE TRADE DEAL TO ANOTHER

Because the same corporates and bureaucrats are behind the “trade deals” – – be prepared, the re-negotiation of NAFTA may involve a huge push by them to get into NAFTA the same things, and more, as they are trying to get in the other trade deals.

See 2017-06-26 What attempts will be made to import clauses from other trade deals into the re-negotiated NAFTA?

Not familiar #4? Canada has to maintain percentage diversion of oil and gas to the U.S., no matter what Canadian needs might be. You will see a paragraph regarding correction of that when you add your weight.

I remember thinking at the time: God! What happened? WHO negotiated this “DEAL of a Lifetime, for Canadians”? Mexico is one of the signatories, they got a WAY BETTER deal than Canadians got.

When you read what Simon Reisman said to the Old Boys about water, you know that he was not representing the public interest of Canadians.

When you read that the Prime Minister at the time, Brian Mulroney, shortly after he was finished with politics, went to sit on the Board of ADM (Archer Daniels Midland, the big “Merchant of Grain”, people who wanted the Canadian Wheat Board GONE because it interfered with their control of food crops, people who wanted unfettered access for North American grains – – read GMO crops – – – into the European Union – – – read CETA – – – and you know the answer to WHO negotiated this “DEAL of a Lifetime, for Canadians”?

Don’t know #5? Intentions of the Corporates, article in Maclean’s Magazine. 2006-09-13 Maclean’s Magazine interview, President of the Americas for Lockheed Martin Ron Covais, Meet NAFTA 2.0

As Maude notes, more than 11,000 Canadians have signed on to voice their concerns about NAFTA.

(We are so polite. Thankfully writing to you is silent. What I’m thinking is not so polite.)

Anyhow, EVERY ONE OF OUR SIGN-ONS is important and we need more. Please help spread the word.

BTW, the Council of Canadians, coordinator of resistance to being screwed (if only by the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) clauses), operates entirely on donations.

Cheers!

Sandra

APPENDED:

From: Maude Barlow, Council of Canadians Sent: June 21, 2017 Subject: Big news on NAFTA

Dear Sandra,

I have great news to share! With NAFTA talks expected to get underway in just 56 days, the Trudeau government has finally opened public consultations.

And it wouldn’t have happened without you. Until now the Trudeau government has remained relatively silent on its plan to renegotiate the massive trade deal. But because you joined the Council of Canadians in pushing for public consultations on NAFTA, the government finally listened.

Thank you for taking action and speaking up when it mattered most! But the window to act is a very short one.

Global Affairs Canada is only accepting comments from Canadians until July 18. And to make matters worse, the government is doing a poor job of letting the public know about these consultations.

That’s why the Council of Canadians is stepping in to make it simple for people to participate. I’m proud to report that we’ve just set up a quick and easy form letter that gets submitted directly to consultations.

People can customize their letters to get their personal NAFTA concerns officially on the record. With only 28 days to go before the July 18 deadline, it’s critical that we flood the consultations starting now!

More than 11,000 people have already submitted their concerns. But our goal is to more than double that to 25,000 by July 18.

And you can help us reach that goal right now. Will you chip in donation to help the Council urgently spread the word far and wide about these NAFTA consultations?

Thanks to generous donations from supporters like you, we’re close to finishing production on a series of educational videos that highlight key problem areas in NAFTA that must be addressed at the renegotiation table.

These videos will alert people across the country about what’s at stake with NAFTA and drive them to flood the consultations with comments before they close.

But we’ve stretched those donations as far as we can. Now we need to urgently raise $12,000 to get these videos promoted online – and, if we can raise enough – even on TV.

Your donation will also help the Council’s amazing grassroots network of 60 community chapters to organize lobby actions targeting MPs in key ridings to keep the pressure on locally right through the summer.

If you and just 199 others each chip in $60 now we’ll have enough to kick this critical next stage of the campaign into high gear!

U.S. President Donald Trump has been clear that he intends to rewrite NAFTA to put “America first.”

NAFTA has already been a bad deal for people and the planet. And we can’t sit by and let Trump make it even worse.

This is our chance to send Prime Minister Trudeau to the negotiating table with a clear mandate from the people: Stand up to Trump and protect Canadians jobs, farmers, the environment and our democracy.

Please give what you can to help. And if you can’t donate right now, you can still help by sharing our NAFTA consultation letter with your friends and family to spread the word.

Thank you again for all you do.

Maude Barlow Honorary Chairperson

Other ways to donate: You can securely donate online, by PayPal, by phone at 1-800-387-7177, or by mail at the address below.

The Council of Canadians operates with no corporate donations or government funding, and always has. Our public advocacy work is proudly 100 per cent independent and sustained by generous donations from people like you.

The Council of Canadians, 300-251 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON, K2P 1X3 1-800-387-7177 | inquiries@canadians.org | http://canadians.org Facebook Page | @CouncilofCDNS Unsubscribe | Email preferences View in browser

2017-06-24 Ecuador’s Correa Calls Assange Case a Historic Injustice (International Criminal Court, unequal treatment of UK, Sweden)

Julian Assange, Wikileaks, Chelsea (Bradley) Manning, Arjen Kamphuis No Responses »

Jun 242017

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2438788&CategoryId=14089

MONTEVIDEO – The situation of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has spent the last five years holed up at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, represents a historic injustice, Ecuador’s former President Rafael Correa told EFE on Friday.“It’s one of the great disgraces, injustices, and abuses in recent history,” Correa, who left office last month after 10 years in power, said in an interview in Montevideo.

“If we had done a tenth of what Sweden did, or what Great Britain is doing, we would already be in front of the (International) Criminal Court in The Hague and be denounced on all sides. But as it’s them, nothing happens at all,” the Ecuadorian said.

The Australian citizen sought refuge at the Ecuadorian mission in June 2012 after losing a battle in the British courts to avoid extradition to Sweden, where prosecutors had been seeking to question him about rape allegations dating back to 2010.

Assange, who denies all the accusations, said that once he was in Swedish custody the United States would pressure Stockholm into handing him over for prosecution based on WikiLeaks’ publication of classified documents.

Ecuador granted Assange’s application for political asylum, but the UK government continues to deny him safe passage to the government, even after Swedish prosecutors’ announcement last month that they were closing the investigation.

Correa told EFE that his administration “never wanted” to obstruct the Swedish investigation, but only to “guarantee due process” for Assange, who “was threatened even with death by certain groups in the United States, where they had a law that included the death penalty if he was deported to that country.”

Ecuador does not seek “to justify what (Assange) has done,” Correa said.

Following Sweden’s decision to end the probe, British police said that they would arrest Assange if he left the embassy, as he still faces charges of failing to surrender to the court that was hearing the extradition case.

“Now it turns out that for a minor offense that he violated his bail terms, Great Britain says that if he leaves the embassy they’ll arrest him. This is truly an attack on human rights,” Correa said.

Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa has said that her government has had diplomat contacts with the UK, including a meeting with the British ambassador in Quito, in pursuit of a solution to the issue.

2017-06 Wealth of Nations, letter to Prime Minister, Finance Minister & MP

Bank of Canada vs Canada Infrastructure Bk, Banksters, Privatization & Trade Deals, COMER No Responses »

Jun 162017

Banksters: Index

Adam Smith to PM, Fin Min, his MP June 2017

Feel free to use whatever you want, copy paste even, no attribution necessary. ?

I want my letter spread far and wide.

Cheers,

Adam

This exemplary letter by young Canadian Adam Smith is indeed about the “Wealth of Nations“!

(The Wealth of Nations is ” the magnum opus of the Scottish economist and moral philosopher Adam Smith first published in 1776.” Quotes are often taken out of context, with zero reference to the parts that weave in morality. But back to contemporary Adam Smith – – my appreciation to him!)

2017-06-13 Banksters: Trudeau Senate appointees move to split infrastructure bank from budget bill, CBC News

Bank of Canada vs Canada Infrastructure Bk, Banksters, Privatization & Trade Deals, COMER 1 Response »

Jun 132017

Banksters: Index

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/trudeau-senate-appointees-poised-split-192432226.html

In a sign that Independent senators are continuing to assert that independence, some in the Red Chamber are attempting to force the government to split off the infrastructure bank from the budget implementation bill, threatening to delay not only the creation of the bank but the government’s budget plans.

Independent Quebec Senator André Pratte, one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s first Senate appointees, introduced a motion in the upper house Tuesday that would remove the bank from Bill C-44, the budget bill, in order to allow further study in the fall.

The proposal, the latest example of the Senate defying the will of the Trudeau government, is strongly opposed by Finance Minister Bill Morneau, who has said the bank is integral to ambitious infrastructure spending plans.

While the government, and its point man in the Senate, Peter Harder, might be opposed to the move, Pratte said he is comfortable he has enough votes from his fellow Independents, and some Liberal and Conservative senators, to split the bill. Debate on the motion will begin tomorrow.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shrugged off the motion Tuesday.

“Obviously, I’m not going to speculate on what might happen, what could happen. We’re proud we have a newly independent, less-partisan Senate that is taking a responsible and serious look at what is put forward by the House of Commons. We’ll always listen.”

In an interview with CBC News, Pratte said he has serious concerns about the bank and the risk it would pose to taxpayers. “The government fails to give clear answers to what the risk level will be,” he said, adding Morneau hasn’t been clear on just how much initial money will be pumped into the $35-billion federal fund intended to help build projects through public-private partnerships across the country.

A recent appearance by Morneau before the Senate’s banking committee was confusing and simply prompted more questions, Pratte said.

“That absolutely needs to be clarified before we give the green light,” he said.

Critics argue the bank will lead to more user fees, higher tolls and the prospect that Canadians will be left on the hook if projects such as bridges and light-rail lines don’t provide the kind of returns investors had expected. Infrastructure Minister Amerjeet Sohi has insisted that will not be the case.

Project details exempt from Access to Information

Pratte, a former journalist with La Presse, is also raising red flags about wording in the legislation that would shield the bank’s projects from federal Access to Information law, as private companies could deem that information “privileged,” making it difficult for the public and the media to scrutinize a particular project. Pratte said this is untenable.

The proposed governance structure would also give federal cabinet the powers to fire the bank’s CEO and senior leadership at will. “This raises the concern that politicians will get involved in the daily business of the bank. For private partners, this is worrisome, and that’s why there needs to be an in-depth study. This is why we need more scrutiny.

“We need to set up the bank in a more independent fashion.”

Lastly, Pratte is concerned the bill treads on provincial jurisdiction, pointing to wording in the legislation that would allow the bank to be deemed an “agent of the Crown,” allowing some projects to be exempt from provincial laws and/or municipal regulations.

The Quebec senator conceded the government has said it would not do such a thing, but he is still worried the clause could be exploited by future governments.

“All relevant provincial and territorial laws will apply for all projects in which the bank invests. There are no special exemptions for the bank or for bank projects. We have sought counsel on this, and that is absolutely clear,” Morneau told senators late last month.

Time ticking ahead of summer break

Pratte said the Senate and the committees tasked with studying the bill will have only a few sitting days to sift through a 300-page budget before Parliament rises for the summer break. “These are complex questions that you cannot solve or find solutions to in a few hours at committee, you need more time. I don’t think delaying the creation of the bank by a couple of months will have a major impact on infrastructure expenditures.”

(Some Senate committees have been conducting pre-studies of the budget, and many senators have expressed similar concerns with the infrastructure bank.)

A spokesperson for Morneau told CBC News Tuesday that while “the Senate has an important role to play in the legislative process … C-44 is our budget plan. Its goal is to create good middle-class jobs, dynamic communities and a resilient economy. We will continue to work with the Senate and pass this bill which will help Canadians across the country.”

“The minister was pleased to appear at [committee] to discuss key elements of the bill in detail, and senators agreed that his testimony contributed to their understanding of our plan.”

The government could also challenge the motion on the grounds that the Senate does not have the right to alter a spending bill, which could prompt the Speaker to rule on whether Pratte’s move is out of order. Pratte said Tuesday he believes a motion to divide the bill is well within the rules.

2017-06-13 He says Canadians do not have a Charter Right to Privacy & Canadians just don’t care about democracy, CBC The Sunday Edition. And Orwell.

Orwell, Privacy of Personal Information; Charter Right; Surveillance; StatsCan Censuses & Surveys, Propaganda 2 Responses »

Jun 132017

Let us not go down the path described by George Orwell in The Animal Farm. Forgetfulness of how democracy works, the importance of our Charter Rights, the fact that it is only citizens who will, in the end, defend them. We stand on guard.

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/june-11-2017-the-sunday-edition-with-michael-enright-1.4150230/canadians-just-don-t-care-about-privacy-michael-s-essay-1.4150263

3:28 minutes total

At the 1:03 minute mark, and which is WRONG:

. . . Privacy is not enshrined or protected in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Privacy protection is really only something which we’ve agreed to foster because it’s the right thing to do.

– – – – – – – – –

MY RESPONSE TO THE CBC:

RE statement (June 11): “Privacy is not enshrined or protected in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms”

Good grief Michael Enright! Did you check your statement with CBC lawyers?

The case law (R. v. Plant) associated with Section 8 of the Charter (protection against undue “search and seizure”) protects the privacy of our personal information, and for good reason:

R. v. Plant, [1993] 3 S.C.R. 281

“In fostering the underlying values of dignity, integrity and autonomy, it is fitting that s. 8 of the Charter should seek to protect a biographical core of personal information which individuals in a free and democratic society would wish to maintain and control from dissemination to the state.”

= = = = = = = = = = = = = =

That may be enough information for your listeners. For your benefit, I add this that I wrote in June 2016. It directly and horrifically links the Right to Privacy of Personal Information to detailed files on citizens as used by the Nazis and collaborationist governments. (It was personal information in Census files in the U.S. that enabled the Japanese internment during WW2, also.)

Canadians have the Charter Right for a very good reason – – PLEASE do not do anything to undermine it!:

I did not know about the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup in Paris, 1942. Many French people were likewise in the dark.

Bless Tatiana de Rosnay for her compelling novel, Sarah’s Key. She says:

I was . . . appalled by what I discovered concerning the Vel’ d’ Hiv’ Roundup, especially about what happened to those 4,000 Jewish children, and I knew I had to write about it. I needed to write about it. . . . writing Sarah’s Key took me to Drancy and Beaune La Rolande, places around Paris which have a dreaded past that cannot be forgotten despite time going by.

I hope I do not see everything through the lens of Lockheed Martin Corporation, the Censuses & Surveys, and the Charter Right to Privacy of Personal Information! For 13 years (2003 – 2016) I have hammered on the fragility of democracy, the reason we need to defend to the death, the Charter Right to Privacy of personal information.

Citizens cross over from civility and thoughtfulness for others, to barbarity, some in short order.

Tatiana de Rosnay says (Author’s Note at the beginning of Sarah’s Key):

. . . It (the novel) is my tribute to the children of the Vel’ d’Hiv’. The children who never came back. And the ones who survived to tell.

My (Sandra’s) Tribute:

The removal and extermination of those children was made possible by detailed census files (ref: IBM and the Holocaust). The appalling treatment of them was done by otherwise ordinary people. From their blood came the Charter Right to Privacy of Personal Information that we have today in Canada.

Does the Charter Right just wither and slither out through our fingers? why? because we are slovenly and ignorant? . . .

Can’t we understand: the depravity of the perpetrators and collaborators sixty years ago has not changed (how about Lockheed Martin, number one Contract Interrogator at American offshore prisons? – – Abu Ghraib, Bagram, Guantanamo . . . ). The detailed files on citizens are being constructed (Lockheed Martin in charge of the “steerage” for the censuses, Lockheed Martin with its specialty in Surveillance).

The lives of those 4,000 children, their mothers and fathers, were worth something, surely. But only if we are willing to act on behalf of the legacy of those children.

EXCERPT from the letter to PRIVACY INTERNATIONAL at bottom of Official correspondence reveals lack of scrutiny of MI5’s data collection

There is a connection not mentioned in the article. You may know it, but just in case you don’t!

The issue of surveillance enabled by collection of personal data through censuses and continuously on-going surveys is

additional to what is happening through “Security” forces and legislation regarding police powers.

The involvement of Lockheed Martin Corp in the data base at the UK Office for National Statistics is a vehicle for loss of Privacy of personal information (surveillance), if the UK situation is similar to the Canadian.

You might be interested in Glenn Greenwald’s TED Talk on the subject: The surprising reason you should care about privacy,

= = = = = = = = = = =

Michael Enright – – I hope your statements generate a storm of protest: Privacy is not enshrined or protected in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Privacy protection is really only something which we’ve agreed to foster because it’s the right thing to do.

Let us not go down the path described by George Orwell in The Animal Farm. Forgetfulness of how democracy works, the importance of our Charter Rights, the fact that it is only citizens who will, in the end, defend them. We stand on guard.

Best wishes,

Sandra Finley

2017-06-13 Banksters & Infrastructure Spending: Letter to Senator – – once we privatize public assets, under CETA rules, we cannot reverse the privatization if it turns out to be detrimental

Bank of Canada vs Canada Infrastructure Bk, Banksters, Privatization & Trade Deals, COMER No Responses »

Jun 132017

Banksters: Index

Letter sent by Fiona McMurran:

To Senator Andre Pratte,

I would like to offer you my complete support for your motion to separate the Canadian Infrastructure Bank from Bill C-44 for the purposes of studying the bank separately.

Canadians have numerous concerns about the infrastructure bank as proposed by the federal Liberal government. The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) carries with it significant questions that require serious consideration and debate.

One significant concern is that a great deal of Canada’s infrastructure actually belongs to the provinces, several of which are already pursuing private-public-partnerships. It is not clear what impact the CIB will have on the provinces and their jurisdiction.

In addition, CIB projects will need to be profitable in order to attract private investment. This means that new user fees will be imposed on our infrastructure driving up costs. These fees will affect everyone using this infrastructure, including those who can least afford to pay.

In addition, Canada is a country with large rural areas. In these areas with smaller populations, infrastructure projects are likely to be less profitable. The CIB may leave these communities, and therefore a significant number of Canadians, behind.

We must ask ourselves if inviting private for-profit investment is in the interests of the Canadian people.

Financially the CIB is going to increase costs for all Canadians. The government will be investing in the projects (our tax dollars); the government will be borrowing from private investors at up to 9% (additional federal debt); and the private investors will be adding users fees. This means that through the CIB Canadians will be paying for their infrastructure three times.

I would like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention the UK election last week. The Labour Party made significant increases in that election by running on a platform that included returning former public assets to the public sector. The UK has already attempted privatization of their infrastructure, including water systems and rail transit, and found it to be a costly failure and detrimental to the public.

Another example of failed privatization is in Paris. Paris privatized their water systems only to discover that they were paying $250 million more per year under privatized water systems than under public systems. Paris bought back its water systems.

I am certain you are aware of the trade agreement known as CETA (the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement). Under this agreement, Canada can never return to the public sector any service or asset once it has been privatized. This is known as CETA’s ratchet clause. While the UK and France have the option to undo failed privatization, Canada will relinquish that right once CETA is implemented meaning that all privatization in Canada will be permanent even if it is detrimental to the Canadian people. This makes the CIB extremely dangerous and not to be adopted lightly.

Please follow the following link to an article about failed privatizations in the United States. If you scroll down you will see a list of the top ten failed private-public-partnerships.

Especially troubling are the stories in which people are at risk of losing their homes because they can no longer afford to pay their water bills under a privatized water system, and in which people are under boil water advisories after their water systems were privatized. https://medium.com/senator-bernie-sanders/why-trumps-infrastructure-plan-is-good-for-wall-street-but-bad-for-america-7ff353db42af

Thank you for entertaining the notion that the CIB should be studied separately rather than passed as part of Bill C-44.

In addition it is my position that privatization of infrastructure will be detrimental to the Canadian people. It is one thing to privatize while reserving the right to reverse the process if it fails. Under CETA, Canada will never be able to correct a failed privatization.

As such, I oppose privatization of Canada’s infrastructure and hope that the senate will take such a position on behalf of the Canadian people.

Sincerely, Fiona McMurran

Chair, South Niagara Chapter, Council of Canadians

Banksters and Fraudsters: Index

Index page, Banksters & Fraudsters 1 Response »

Jun 122017

Bold, italicized, underlined text is a link.

General “News Reports” are under one heading (News..).

A button is on top right corner of each linked posting, for ease of getting back to Banksters: Index.

What’s All the Fuss? – – scroll down, you’ll get an idea. At the simplest level, to me, it is this:

Canadians are to purchase from $180 to $188 BILLION DOLLARS worth of infrastructure, over 12 years. The plan for how we are to raise the money to pay for it, involves a huge transfer of public assets and money over to “the banksters”. We get to be the poor guys; they get to keep on being the rich guys – – forever. It is a tried and true recipe for violence and poverty.

INDEX, BANKSTERS & FRAUDSTERS

Advisory Committee on Economic Growth to Federal Govt, Canada

Dominic Barton appointed by Finance Minister Bill Morneau, to head it up

Larry Summers confers with the Advisory Committee

Summers is covered separately in depth – – scroll down to “Summers”.

Barton – – scroll down to “Barton” (re-branding, “Capitalism” becomes “Inclusive Capitalism”, in response to Occupy and to hostilities of the growing Anti-Capitalism movement after 2007-08).

See CIB (Canada Infrastructure Bank) under Beyond Banksters, the destruction and self-enrichment that “our” “Advisors” and their cohorts created).

“Asset recycling”

2018-10-30 Will the Trudeau government ‘recycle’ Parks Canada ‘assets’? by Brent Patterson

“Bail-in” of Banks, (I’ll add an explanatory note re bail-ins, later)

Bail-out of Canada’s top six Banks, by Canadian citizens, $108 to $114 billion between Sept 2008 and July 2010.

(The link takes you to the Beyond Banksters posting. Once there, scroll down, you will find the bail-out info under Page 1 excerpts.

In my words: Corporate Welfare Bums or Kings – or Robber Barons, your pick.)

Beyond Banksters: Resisting the New Feudalism by Joyce Nelson

How to obtain copies – (the above link) http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=18980

Excerpts typed up – (the above link)

Publisher – Watershed Sentinel Books, Comox, BC (the above link)

Copies purchased 445, Jerry: every MP and Senator in Canada has received a copy. UPDATE: no, they didn’t. Jerry was not told: the books were not delivered because “free” mailing to Parliament Hill is only for regular size letters. The last I heard, Jerry had not been able to track down – – where are the 445 books?

Copies purchased 55, Sandra: cover letter, copy sent to some attendees of FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) Annual Conference, June 1 – 4, Ottawa. And others.

I’ve received emails from friends who have ordered, for example, 5 copies to give as gifts to friends.

CIB (Canada Infrastructure Bank)

How will it work? And how will we pay for $180 (upped to $188) billion in infrastructure spending over 12 years? click on

Beyond Banksters: Resisting the New Feudalism, 2016, by Joyce Nelson, Watershed Sentinel Books, Comox, BC

Excerpts from the book to introduce you to names Canadians should know. If you think the CIB is in trustworthy hands, you are very wrong!

There’s the Bank of America Merrill Lynch, BlackRock, Larry Fink crew, ON TOP OF Larry Summers, Dominic Barton – – brought to us by our (?)discerning

Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, and Finance Minister Bill Morneau.

Cripes! Deliberate hiring of the people who’ve done the biggest heists in the history of humankind – – these people advise and help manage our financial affairs?!

Summers is covered in depth – – scroll down in this Index to “Summers”.

Barton, the same. (co-founder of re-branding “capitalism” to “Inclusive Capitalism” in response to hostilities of Occupy and the growing Anti-Capitalism movement. Millions of people lost their homes, there was a massive transfer of public wealth (bailouts) to Wall Street Robber Barons, that our “Advisors” and their cohorts created).

Scroll down to Trade Deals. Trade Deals outlaw publicly-owned central banks, and

2017-06-13 Once we privatize public assets, under CETA rules, we cannot reverse the privatization if it turns out to be detrimental (Letter sent by Fiona McMurran to Senator Andre Pratte)

Also, Infrastructure Spending is closely linked to privatization of water, which includes diversion to the U.S. See, for example, information at the beginning of 2017-06-23 Big news on NAFTA

An Update:

2019-08-06 The Liberal Government Says It is Looking to Privatize Municipal Water Systems Across Canada, PressProgress

Bankruptcy,

2017-05-03 Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Puts Pressure on California, Illinois, Connecticut, Breitbart News. Vulture capitalists.

2017-05-06 On greed, debt & the inevitable housing crisis, Michael Hudson, published in Common Ground (Vancouver).

Barton, Dominic

2017-04-28 Dominic Barton (McKinsey Co.): Federal Minister of Finance Morneau appointed him to head Economic Advisory Committee. EHMs.

2017-05-25 Larry Summers – Dominic Barton connection. “Inclusive Capitalism Initiative” as “re-branding”. Summers bad news (corrupt), Canadian financial matters, advisor to Liberals.

2014-05-27 ‘Inclusive capitalism’ the big new thing? from DW, German international broadcaster. (Dominic Barton co-founder of ICI)

Barbarians of Wealth, Protecting Yourself from Today’s Financial Attilas, Sandy Franks, Sara Nunnally. Taipan Publishing Group (I know this is out of alpha sequence)

Thanks to Lou who writes: two very interesting gals (the authors)

Page 158, “The weapons of mass financial destruction that the barbarians of wealth conjured up from their penthouse office suites on Wall Street computer screens have put the U.S. economy in dire jeopardy“.

We could add . . . ‘have put the Canadian people, as well as the Americans, and other peoples of the world in dire jeopardy’…

Bill C-44, Omnibus Budget Bill, includes legislation to create the CIB (Canada Infrastructure Bank).

The Liberals want C-44 passed before summer recess starts (June 2017).

There is action to get the Senate to split the CIB legislation out of C-44. Tax-payers are to put $35 billion into the CIB. It needs to be discussed, citizens need to be informed. The Infrastructure Bank legislation needs to return to the House of Commons and receive due discussion and consideration in the Fall Sitting.

The CIB is too important to be hidden and rammed through in an Omnibus Bill, in the last minutes of the current sessions.

Citizen Resistance via House of Commons and Senate (See also Senate):

Wealth of Nations, letter to Prime Minister, Finance Minister & his MP (well researched, written, and foot-noted. Important. By Adam Smith.)

Adam Smith, submission to Senators, Excerpt:

. . . . I implore the Senate to strike Division 18 of Part 4 from Bill C-44 in its entirety and influence the government to return the Bank of Canada to previous levels of monetary financing and economic activity, instead of creating new burdens of public debt, fees, and taxation.

(I will add more when I have time.)

Status of C-44, at June 14, as I understand:

C-44 passed 3^rd reading in the House of Commons Monday, June 11.
Tuesday, June 13. 1^st reading in the Senate.
After 2^nd reading, it will go to Senate Committee for hearing.
Then back to Senate, with possible amendments, for 3^rd reading.
After which it goes back to the House of Commons.
Which leads to Royal Assent part of process, with or without any amendments.

BlackRock click on Beyond Banksters, Ch 3: A 21st Century Trojan Horse. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, BlackRock, Larry Fink.

Capitalism re-branded in the wake of Anti-Capitalism, see the ICI (Inclusive Capitalism Initiative)

CETA (Canada European, Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement). See Trade Deals.

Previous postings on this blog, specific to CETA – – use the search button, upper right corner.

CIB (Canada Infrastructure Bank) – – see under Beyond Banksters

COMER (Committee On Monetary and Economic Reform)

From the Court Appeal, 2013-12-10

COMER, on our behalf. Read the “Relevant Quotations”. “Once a nation parts with control of its currency and credit, it matters not who makes that nation’s laws. . . .”

Beyond Banksters (COMER is in Chapters 1 and 8). Click on the link, some Excerpts typed up.

2017-05-04 Application for Leave to Appeal to Supreme Court dismissed with costs

2017-05-31 Supreme Court of Canada Dismisses Constitutional Bank of Canada Case, Claiming It Is a Political Matter

Quote from COMER lawsuit (in posting Larry Summers – Dominic Barton connection. “Inclusive Capitalism Initiative”)

2015-06-02 AWARE (COMER & their lawyer, Rocco Galati). With Steve Jobs’ wisdom.

2015-02-05 Canadians Sued The Bank Of Canada & Won (didn’t!). Mainstream Media & Government Blacks Out Story

The China Connection http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/china-connection/

Corruption (large infrastructure spending, Government partnerships)

That investigation has found an immigration company run by a man who was wanted by the Chinese government for fraud. That company, which is closely affiliated with Brightenview, has shattered dreams and torn apart families. (Immigration fraud.)

Dundurn, SK, a similar project in Chatham-Kent, Ont., Regina SK, tentacles elsewhere in Canada.

From: Sandra Finley Sent: May 25, 2017 Subject: the China Connection

That big mall that was supposed to be built at Dundurn, SK for Chinese manufacturers – –

What I heard was about all these guys in Alberta who want Brad Wall to be their premier.

I think that’s a good idea – – I don’t think the people of Sask can afford him?

Reply, Hart:

what a story!!!

While in SK I always thought it would be an interesting project to work on ‘white elephants’ and phony projects in Canada, specifically SK. Be it water, bio fuels or nuclear energy, all with government support.

Reply, Elaine: (and thanks to Elaine for sending the China Connection.)

If I do nothing else for the next 2 years, I will devote my energies to getting rid of (Premier) Wall next election 2 years from now – with a passion!

STC* runs out next Wed. – nothing to do with my rage at that move and, of course, at all the health and education programs this moron is destroying.

*(March 22, 2017 News Release – “Government of Saskatchewan Ends Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) Subsidy – Company to be Wound-Down”)

(Sandra speaking: surely, supporters will change their minds, see through things, when they understand that the glory and the glitz is a mask behind which people are looting the public treasury – – hard to believe they get away with “partnering” – – the conflicts-of-interest are outrageous. Recipe for corruption. Has always been thus.)

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man – – see Perkins, John

Debt

see under Perkins, John (New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man)
see under Bankruptcy

Economics – – see Voodoo Economics

Economic Hit Men (EHM)

see Perkins, John
see Voodoo Economics / Junk Economics
see Beyond Banksters

Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Targets for Infrastructure spending. Some attendees received copies of Banksters prior to Annual Conference.

Would be great if you would talk with your local Municipal Government about Banksters, put information in their hands. All hands on deck! Get in touch (Comments at bottom) if you have questions.

Fink, Larry see Beyond Banksters, Ch 3: A 21st Century Trojan Horse. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, BlackRock, Larry Fink.

Freeland, Chrystia Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs (Trade Deals and friend of Larry Summers)

2017-05-25 Larry Summers – Dominic Barton connection. “Inclusive Capitalism Initiative” as “re-branding”. Summers bad news (corrupt), Canadian financial matters, advisor to Liberals.

Hope?! If not this article, then WE and citizens in other nations working with us, are our Hope!

2014-06-19 The open source revolution is coming and it will conquer the one % – ex CIA spy; The Guardian

Hudson, Michael, Economist

2017-05-06 On greed, debt & the inevitable housing crisis, Michael Hudson, published in Common Ground (Vancouver).

Junk Economics (book he wrote) – – see Voodoo Economics

ICI (“inclusive capitalism initiative”) A re-branding of capitalism in the wake of Anti-Capitalism

2014-05-27 ‘Inclusive capitalism’ the big new thing? from DW, German international broadcaster. (Dominic Barton)

2014-06-03 ICI (“inclusive capitalism initiative) Christine Lagarde, Mark Carney wouldn’t take a pay cut, so why talk up inequality? Financial Post

2017-05-25 Larry Summers – Dominic Barton connection. “Inclusive Capitalism Initiative” as “re-branding”. Summers bad news (corrupt), Canadian financial matters, advisor to Liberals.

Infrastructure Spending

2016-08-09 Turning off the Tap: Site C and Water Privatization in Canada, Global Research

See CIB (Canada Infrastructure Bank) under Beyond Banksters.

And beware Infrastructure spending on Water – – see Water Privatization.

Inserts I placed in my copies of Beyond Banksters

Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) – – – see under Trade Deals

Beyond Banksters, Chapter 10.

Previous postings on this blog, use the search button, upper right corner (“ISDS”).

The Council of Canadians website is an excellent resource.

Junk Economics – – see Voodoo Economics

Morneau, Bill Canada’s Finance Minister appoints Dominic Barton to head up the Advisory Committee on Economic Growth – – see Advisory Committee on Economic Growth.

Mulroney, Brian (Conservative PM, NAFTA, advisor to Liberal PM J. Trudeau on re-negotiation) – – see under Trade Deals.

NAFTA / FTA – – see Trade Deals

also, Beyond Banksters, Chapter 10.

Previous postings on this blog, use the search button, upper right corner (“NAFTA”).

See also, the Council of Canadians website.

Nelson, Joyce, author- – see Beyond Banksters

News Reports, from most recent

2017-06-13 Trudeau Senate appointees move to split infrastructure bank from budget bill, CBC News

2017-06-07 Why Trump’s So-Called Infrastructure Plan Is Good for Wall Street But Bad for America, by Bernie Sanders

This is a description, with 10 actual examples – – Sanders describes exactly, the financing proposed for the $188 billion (up from $180 billion) in Infrastructure spending in Canada. It is what Joyce Nelson describes in Beyond Banksters. For the love of god and allah and all deities, please let Canadians know. If Canadians become serfs to the banksters and fraudsters, it will only be because we did not spread the word and discuss – – simple as talk with each other. It’s actually a fun thing to do!

2017-06-02 The Liberals have ended up with an infrastructure bank that offers Canadians only downsides and risk, National Post

2017-05-05 Documents expose dangers of Liberal privatization bank, G&M

2017-04-17 BMO bundles uninsured mortgages in a Canadian bond first, Bloomberg News

This is a repeat of what contributed to the 2007-08 meltdown. The take-away lesson for the banks, obviously: you can do whatever you like. You will not be stopped (regulated) and you will not go to jail.

Perkins, John – – author of The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, 2016, paperback

Chapter 34, Excerpts

Ch. 38, Your Friendly Banker as EHM (Excerpts)

Ch. 40, Istanbul: Tools of Modern Empire (Excerpts)

In the posting Beyond Banksters, scroll down to Page 19, The Debt Trap.

2016-07-26 Mary Manning Cleveland: John Perkins’ Economic Hit Man; her father’s career in the U.S. Foreign Service. (This is an excellent overview for understanding the $180,000,000,000 in infrastructure spending Canadians are to embark upon.)

2017-06-12 Vaccinations: update, Tim Sullivan, School Teacher disciplined. Informed consent. Hashtag “ReadTheInserts”.

Vaccinations (incl corruption of science & govt) No Responses »

Jun 122017

In follow-up to:

2017-03-09 Science Teacher in Ontario May Be Disciplined for Urging Students Be Informed of Vaccination Risks (National Vaccine Information Centre, U.S.)

Note: Hashtag #ReadTheInserts.

Pills come with “inserts”, information about the drug. Good pharmacists ensure that the client knows the risks, side effects of a prescription drug, before they use the drug.

Informed consent is a process for getting permission BEFORE conducting a healthcare intervention on a person.

People will listen to, and consider, the doctor or pharmacist’s view. “Informed consent” is listening, but also reading and assessing for yourself.

In the end, we are each responsible for making the decisions about our own body.

Vaccines come with “inserts” but the person being vaccinated seldom sees the insert. As Janet notes below, at vaccination clinics, the nurses seldom supply the information. You have to ask for the insert.

There is zero Informed consent if you do not have access to information.

Hence the importance of the hashtag, the call-out to people to #ReadTheInserts.

With thanks to Janet M:

All:

Tim S. really stuck his neck out

I can tell you that I attended part of his hearing & heard the public health nurse admit they do not read out all the possible risks & side effects of vaccines at these school vaccination clinics.

Pls support Ted’s fundraiser for Tim if you feel so inclined!

(even if you don’t feel like donating, good to know this is happening)

(& people also need to know what’s going on w. these clinics. Article links below)

There’s far too much intimidation involved. . . . They’ve passed the legislation.

There will be more things to come in the days ahead.

it ain’t over ’till it’s over, as the saying goes.

& btw, one of the simplest & most powerful things we can repeat to people is this:

Read the inserts!!!!!!!!

It’s not a bad hashtag if one is twitter-inclined, #ReadTheInserts

——– Forwarded Message ——–

Subject:	[Vaccine Choice] Ted’s fundraiser for teacher Tim Sullivan
Date:	Sat, 10 Jun 2017 14:09:03 -0400

Hello,

Ted has set up a fundraiser to replace lost wages for Tim Sullivan, the teacher who was recently suspended for one month by the Ontario College of Teachers. He also has to complete remedial coursework at his expense for professional boundaries, professional ethics and selfregulation .

Here is a link to the fundraiser: https://www.youcaring.com/timsullivan-842128 If you choose to donate, YouCaring uses a donation instead of a percentage to use their site. You can change the donation amount to any amount including $0.

Unfortunately, the OCT (Ontario College of Teachers) has not published Tim’s decision on their website.

These articles will give you further information about Tim’s situation:

Hearing set for teacher who says he was trying to inform students of vaccine risks

Teacher found guilty of misconduct in anti-vaccination case

Students back teacher found guilty of misconduct (video)

School Vaccination Clinics and Informed Consent

http://vaccinechoicecanada.com/about-vaccines/informed-consent-mature-minor-ethics/school-vaccination-clinics-informed-consent/

Thanks, Rita

2017-06-10 How can you ask questions about trade deals and NOT query Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) chapters? Question to CBC.

Bank of Canada vs Canada Infrastructure Bk, Banksters, Privatization & Trade Deals, COMER, Trade Deals, PPPs, Integration Canada-U.S. No Responses »

Jun 102017

Banksters: Index

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland was interviewed on CBC Radio, The House (June 10). http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thehouse (The interview starts at 3:05, ends at 16:30)

Host Chris Hall asked some hard questions of Freeland re use of “hard power” in foreign policy.

BUT re NAFTA, Nothing re ISDS (Investor-State Dispute Settlement) – also referred to as “Chapter 11”. To me ISDS is a metaphor for Big Government cooperating with Big Business.

(Ironically, Freeland refers to the G-7 “Club”. And the G-20 being an expansion (of that Club). The mind-bent is telling!)

MY REPLY TO “THE HOUSE” (CBC):

I do not know how you can ask questions about trade deals and NOT query the Investor State Dispute Settlement chapters in them.

Canadians have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to corporations under ISDS. Governments learn their lesson; it puts a chill on legislation & regulation to protect environment and citizens.

I don’t pay taxes in order to undermine our system of Government, or to enrich the wrong people.

If the CBC is afraid to ask the tough questions, in today’s world, the population will inform itself. Which widens the gap between the governed and the collaborators with Big Business.

~~~ End of Submission ~~~

SUBMIT TO:

CBC Radio, The House, http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thehouse/contact

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

COMMENT:

This YouTube posting shows how the public in Germany is informed about ISDS. German Public Broadcast makes an information film. I don’t think you can call a citizenry “informed” about their nations’ trade / foreign policy if the media and Government do not explain the ISDS clauses in the Deals:

A. 2015-11-16 YouTube: German Public TV showing Europeans re ISDS (Investor State Dispute Settlements). Canada? U.S.? What are we seeing?

In this second posting, there is a picture of the hundreds of thousands of Germans that, just on one day, in one location, protested the Trade deals:

B. 2015-10-10 Hundreds of thousands shut down Berlin to protest “Trojan Horse” – – Monsanto’s dream trade deal. The Guardian

I don’t think it’s possible to have B (hundreds of thousands of citizens taking to the streets in protest) without A (an informed citizenry).

These two specific events are not sequential, B happened before A.

But “B” (public uprising, hundreds of thousands) happened in a context of longer term, fearless, public broadcast.

“A” (the Public TV YouTube re ISDS) is a continuation of journalists doing their job – – the creation of Context out of which things happen, or, do not happen.

My interpretation is reinforced, for example:

Prior to a decision regarding the moratorium on GMO crops in Germany, a documentary filmmaker from German Public Television came to Saskatchewan where there had been early, extensive adoption of GMO crops.

Might I add: “biotech” had received bounteous support from the Federal Government (then Fed Finance Minister Ralph Goodale), the Provincial Government (NDP Premier Roy Romanow) and the University of Saskatchewan. Monsanto led the way to the bonanza (U of S, College of Agriculture), later followed by the other biotech-chemical corporations moving into the University, too.

It was observed (in Germany) that the (material) coming into Europe, in advance of review of the GMO moratorium, was all industry-generated. In fearless fashion, Public Television sent a documentary-maker to Canada to see what the story was “on the ground”.

Here today, in Canada, the CBC interviewer may not have had time to ask Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland the hard questions about ISDS. That does not matter. I submitted my feedback because if I don’t, I help give our public broadcaster license to never address ISDS.

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