CETA
A note to Thomas Mulcair: 'Friends don't let friends sign free trade agreements'
Dear Thomas Mulcair,
Friends don't let friends drive drunk. We value the lives of our friends and of others they might harm or kill in their stupor. Similarly, friends don't let friends sign free trade deals. We value our people, our society, our economy and the global environment we all depend on for our collective well being.
'Free trade' has never been free. It has always come with disproportionate costs and benefits, pursued by and for the benefit of the 1% at the expense of the 99%.
Open letter to Thomas Mulcair: Maintain NDP's opposition to 'trade' deals like CETA
I want to add my name to those who have written to you expressing our concern about the possibility that the NDP might endorse the CETA agreement.
This agreement is primarily about limiting the public policy options of government. It is not fundamentally about lowering tariff barriers as these are already quite low. Rather it is about enhancing investor rights. It is also about further entrenching the intellectual property regime that has led to such major increases in Canada's pharmaceutical prices since Brian Mulroney abolished compulsory licensing in 1987 and 1992 with Bills C22 and C91.
