As negotiations on the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement continued in Belgium today, the Council of Canadians delivered more than 6,000 letters opposing CETA to the Mission of Canada to the European Union at Avenue de Tervueren 2 here in Brussels this afternoon.
This action sends a strong message to the Canadian government and to the CETA negotiators here that Canadians have serious concerns about this deal now in its fourth round of talks.
The two large boxes of letters - received by surprised and curious embassy staff -- say, "I am very concerned by reports that this deal will be ‘broader and more ambitious' than NAFTA by including services, regulatory harmonization, investor rights, and new and unreasonable limits on how local and provincial governments spend money."
The letters call for the release of the full draft text of the proposed deal and cross-country public consultations before the next round of negotiations can take place.
Those talks are presently scheduled for mid-October in Ottawa where the Council of Canadians plans again to be present to raise opposition to this proposed deal.
For Council of Canadians analysis and ways to take action against CETA, please go to http://www.canadians.org/CETA.
Brent Patterson, Director of Campaigns and Communications, Council of Canadians
www.canadians.org
