NOTE: Canada exported over CA$168.8 million worth of bottled water products to the world in 2014.
. . . most (76.1%) of Canada’s bottled water products were shipped to the United States.
. . . three corporations currently dominate foreign exports to China: Nestlé SA, Coca-Cola Co. and Danone Groupe
Related to “Ag Canada promotes bottled water exports . . .”, as I related to a friend:
In 1995 I started a little business to promote the addition of bulghur wheat to our diets. It didn’t make sense to me that we import mountains of rice, when we are a major grower of wheat. “Bulghur” wheat has a wonderful cuisine developed over 3 or 4 thousand years in the Mediterranean countries. Wheat (some varieties are preferred) is cooked, dried and cracked. It can be stored for long periods. And preparation is fast, basically takes 15 minutes to re-hydrate. With family help, I packaged and promoted, along with a cookbook, the use of bulghur wheat.
I attended one of those workshops put on by the Govt to help entrepreneurs.
I don’t forget how flabbergasted I was: the Government employee listed the sectors for economic growth that had been identified through their strategic planning.
It was verbal, but also in the written presentation.
Water was an identified lucrative export item back then (would have been middle 1990s).
Business people were encouraged: the Govt gurus/machinery have identified the market. Now you get in there and develop it! – – you will be guaranteed to make $$$$$$.
I lodged complaint, but lone voice in the wilderness of that circle!
Guess who “got in there”, with Govt support.
It was almost 30 years ago.
The bitch of it – – in spite of all the work on water to educate, inform and stop water from becoming polluted and a commodity like oil, to be exploited by the already-rich through their shareholder status in companies like Nestle, Coca-Cola and Danone, their agenda is pretty well accomplished.
Canada exported over CA$168.8 million worth of bottled water products to the world in 2014. How many Canadians would know? And certainly in spite of valiant efforts: Have to say, God Bless Maude Barlow and her dedication to Water.
The constant, largest problem we have: Big Government working with Big Business.
Blacklock’s reports, “The Department of Agriculture is urging that Canada sell more fresh water to China – by the bottle.” (INSERT: By the tanker will follow.) ..The agriculture department in a report Sector Trend Analysis: Bottled Water In China noted three corporations currently dominate foreign exports to China: Nestlé SA, Coca-Cola Co. and Danone Groupe. …The agriculture department’s Analysis urged water exporters to contact Canada trade commissioners for ‘on-the-ground expertise’ in boosting sales to China.”
The whole thing is so incredibly a sell-out. Who are the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and the top minions?
Once again, the University/Universities are part of the sell-out.
Remember Feb 23, 2012 University of Alberta vs. Nestle: Controversy and honorary degrees Rabble: The University of Alberta is embroiled in controversy over its decision to award an honorary degree to Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, the Chair of Nestlé, the largest multinational food and water corporation in the world and one of the most unpopular.
And 2014-04-17 Monsanto and Big Food Losing the GMO and ‘Natural’ Food Fight: about the fight in California that almost succeeded in getting labelling of GMO foodstuffs. One of the big funders of the effort to stop it was Nestle.
It is impossible to have democracy when there is such concentration of wealth. Previous generations knew that AND WERE WILLING TO FIGHT TO BREAK UP THE CARTELS.
/Sandra
P.S. Don’t let me get into the diversion of water to the U.S.! Free Trade with the U.S., the sell-out by Canada’s Chief Negotiator, Simon Reisman. . . .
Back to Bottled Water to China (Council of Canadians):
https://canadians.org/blog/agriculture-canada-promotes-bottled-water-exports-china
. . . This Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada report dated February 2017 notes, “Even though Canada exported over CA$168.8 million worth of bottled water products to the world in 2014, it had a large export gap with China, as most (76.1%) of Canada’s bottled water products were shipped to the United States.” [ http://www5.agr.gc.ca/eng/industry-markets-and-trade/statistics-and-market-information/agriculture-and-food-market-information-by-region/asia/market-intelligence/sector-trend-analysis-bottled-water-in-china/?id=1486580447145&wbdisable=true ]
It adds, “China’s demand for bottled water will continue to increase over the coming years, and their bottled water market is forecasted to almost double through 2019. Canadian bottled water exports to China have grown significantly over the last five years, although the supply gap is also growing. As such, there are significant opportunities for Canadian bottled water producers to expand in the Chinese market.”
In September 2016, this media release noted, “On the occasion of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to China for the G20 meeting, Whistler Water Inc. signed a substantial investment agreement to promote, market and sell Whistler Water branded products in China and other overseas markets.” [ http://www.watertoday.ca/ts-bottling-water-in-canada-for-china.asp ]
Furthermore, in this article published in March 2015 about mineral water and bottled water, Water Canada reported, “In recent weeks, two Chinese businessmen have purchased two water sources in the province. Another Chinese man reportedly bought a water source in Chilliwack, B.C. for $17 million.” [ http://watercanada.net/2015/chinese-business-owners-could-spend-more-than-20-million-on-canadian-water-sources/ ]
The rapid industrialization of China has consumed massive amounts of water and has contributed to a terrible water crisis there. It has been estimated that 90 percent of groundwater in their cities and 75 percent of their rivers and lakes are polluted and as such some 700 million people drink contaminated water every day.
Because of that water pollution, China sees Tibet as a source of bottled water. The Globe and Mail has reported, “Using tax breaks and other forms of government encouragement, the country wants its companies to bottle five million tonnes a year of Tibet water by 2020 and double that by 2025.”
It’s likely that Chinese investors might increasingly see Canada as a source for bottled water, especially given Agriculture Canada is promoting the idea.
Now that bottled water exports to China have begun, they could be difficult to stop under the ‘investment protection’ provisions in the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) or a Canada-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) now the subject of exploratory talks between the Trudeau and Chinese governments.
EMAIL FROM ELAINE:
Sent: May 1, 2017 6:01 AM
. . . . most stunningly stupid thing yet!
REPLY FROM ME, SANDRA:
Sent: May 1, 2017 1:13 PM
When I was doing my bulghur wheat business, so sometime in the late 1990s
I attended one of those workshops put on by the Govt to “help” entrepreneurs.
I remember how flabbergasted I was: the Govt employee listed the sectors for economic growth that had been identified through their “strategic” planning.
It was verbal, but also in the written presentation.
Water was an identified lucrative export item back then.
Business people were encouraged: the Govt gurus/machinery have identified the market. Now you get in there and develop it! – – you will be guaranteed to make $$$. . . . Guess who “got in there”, with Govt support.
I lodged complaint, but lone voice in the wilderness of that circle!
I doubt I still have the documentation, unfortunately.
It was 20 years ago.
The bitch of it – – in spite of all the work on water – – to educate, inform and stop water from becoming polluted and a commodity like oil, to be exploited by the already-rich through their shareholder status in companies like Nestle, Coca-Cola and Danone, their agenda is pretty well accomplished. – – Canada exported over CA$168.8 million worth of bottled water products to the world in 2014. A stunning figure. How many Canadians would know? And certainly in spite of the valiant efforts: Have to say, God Bless Maude and all the C of C, including yourself.
Blacklock’s reports, “The Department of Agriculture is urging that Canada sell more fresh water to China – by the bottle. ..The agriculture department in a report Sector Trend Analysis: Bottled Water In China noted three corporations currently dominate foreign exports to China: Nestlé SA, Coca-Cola Co. and Danone Groupe. …The agriculture department’s Analysis urged water exporters to contact Canada trade commissioners for ‘on-the-ground expertise’ in boosting sales to China.”
The whole thing is so incredibly a sell-out. (Swear word.) Who is the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and the top minions? Need to expose them.
Once again, the University/Universities are part of the sell-out.
Remember Feb 23, 2012, Rabble: The University of Alberta is embroiled in controversy over its decision to award an honorary degree to Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, the Chair of Nestlé, the largest multinational food and water corporation in the world and one of the most unpopular.
And 2014-04-17 Monsanto and Big Food Losing the GMO and ‘Natural’ Food Fight: about the fight in California that almost succeeded in getting labelling of GMO foodstuffs. One of the big funders of the effort to stop it was Nestle.
It is impossible to have democracy when there is such concentration of wealth. Previous generations understood that, AND WERE WILLING TO FIGHT TO BREAK UP THE CARTELS.
Sorry for the rant!!
/Sandra