AbitibiBowater, our largest forest company,  is using Chapter 11 of NAFTA to sue Canada over the actions of the province of Newfoundland. If the company succeeds in this case, it will be the great chill that corporations everywhere dream of to prevent governments from defending the public interest by taking back public resources that have been licensed to private companies for economic development.

There is a certain flourish to most things Jack Layton does, and his announcement that he is receiving treatment for prostate cancer was no exception. His Friday statement was dignified and moving, but what impressed me also was his assurance that he would be on the job Monday. From what I know of the man, he will likely put an extra step in his stride for emphasis.

The Facebook organized anti-prorogue demos across Canada Saturday exceeded the expectations, even of the twittering classes. I was among the 3,000 or so in Ottawa, and although I met a number of friends and colleagues, this was for the most part a non-partisan outpouring including more than a few who were singing along with the Raging Grannies for the first time.

If Fortress North America is the extension of the NAFTA security state, Mexico is the crumbling wall of the fortress.  A near failed state, Mexico is lawless, violent and repressive.  The Calderon government is waging a drug war and a class war to destroy the independent labour movement, while its NAFTA partners turn a blind eye to the democratic decay and rubble piling up inside the walls of the fortress.

Cultural resolution:  Because progressive voices are systematically censored in Canadian media, and Because progressives are more divided than they think, lets Agree to create a media that gives expression to the unifying themes of a movement for change.

Political resolution: Because the left is fragmented and Because our hope for progressive change requires a new political alignment, lets Agree to overcome narrow partisanship and work for a strategy for change.

Being old school and traditional in many ways, I have difficulty with new age language and politics.  In particular, at this time of year I cannot get my head around a New Year’s resolution in so-called plain language that will supplant my training in Whereas and Therefore Be it Resolved:  to wit: Because it is the beginning of the New Year, and Because I am imperfect, I Agree to be better...  This is my problem and I resolve/agree to get over it in 2010. 

Remember Bono’s line, “the world needs more Canada.”  I don’t think he had last week in mind – a week of one humiliation after another for the old maple leaf.

First, there was the case of Amy Goodman, the crusading host of Democracy Now, detained at the Peace Arch border crossing for six hours by Canadian border guards who grilled her on whether she was coming to Vancouver to criticize the Olympic Games.  She wasn’t. 

“Hello, Mr. Harper – you are cutting out on me and I don’t understand what you are saying”

“Sorry about that, but don’t worry: you are a consumer and we put the consumer first.”

“Prime Minister Harper, I am very concerned about the implications of this decision for Canadian culture.”

“You are breaking up there… must be a dead zone.  As I was saying, this is about quality and consumer choices.  There is too much regulation on choices that should be between you and your broadcaster, I mean cable company, damn it,  I mean phone company…”