Harper hostile to reopening Labour and Environmemtal side agreements in NAFTA

Jim (the smoothie) Prentice has taken on the environment file, of course, and that makes their environmental policy innovations dangerous as hell. This is not Bulldog Baird.

Right out of the starting gate, Prentice is preaching the indivisible nature of economy and environment, that they cannot be dealt with separately. Which is true, of course, but they are not pairing them for proper analysis of the situation leading to reduction of carbon emissions.

Consider the appeal of this idea for the newly unemployed of both Ontario and Ohio. And the weighting given to the "employment" side of that coin.

[ 06 November 2008: Message edited by: George Victor ]

Okay, I am just going to expand it anyway.

quote:

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The Fraser Institute: Harper Government Must Move Quickly to Establish a Relationship With a Barack Obama Administration

...For the past several years, Canada and the U.S. have been moving to integrate markets in the two countries, initially under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and more recently through the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP). The ability for transactions to occur freely across the border has been a key engine of Canadian growth in the past two decades. In 2007, Canada's trade with the United States amounted to 67 per cent of its overall trade, or 40 per cent of GDP. But these gains could disappear if the new U.S. administration embraces more protectionist policies.
"Given Obama's expressed hesitation for free trade agreements and his promises to seek more labour and environmental conditions in agreements such as NAFTA, Canada will likely face more than security demands from the new administration in bilateral negotiations on deepening trade," Moens said.

"But Obama is a highly intelligent person, and a master politician. If Harper can persuade him that the United States will benefit from good relations with Canada, he may adjust his policies."

The other key issue facing Canada is the likelihood of Obama bringing forward a carbon cap-and-trade system. Canada is particularly sensitive to arbitrary caps on carbon set in Washington which would most likely lead to American industry demanding import tariffs or levies on Canadian energy products and manufactured goods. Because carbon policies lead to trade distortions, Canada can only minimize its losses if it joins an American cap and trade system. Any difference between the two markets on these regulations will likely hurt the Canadian export sector.

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Um, wonder if Prentice has contacted his friend from the PC days EMay yet?[url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/The-Fraser-Institute-Harper-Govern... he suggests the Prime Minister concentrate on three main issues: [/url]

[url=http://www.opednews.com/articles/Majority-Oppose-Chapter-11-by-Dana-Gabr... Oppose Chapter 11 of NAFTA[/url] February 2009

Quote:

A recent binational poll commissioned by the Council of Canadians, found that the majority of Americans and Canadians oppose provisions found in Chapter 11 of NAFTA. The poll found that 70% believe that energy corporations should not be allowed to sue governments for changes to policy that protect the environment and promote the public interest

Quote:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North American business groups urged leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada on Friday to rein in "buy local" provisions they called a threat to free trade and economic growth. . .

Other recommendations included:

 

* Full implementation of a long-delayed U.S. commitment to allow Mexican trucks to operate in the United States.

* Rejection of a "carbon tax" on imports from countries judged not to be doing enough to fight global warming.

* Stronger regulatory cooperation among the three countries, and rigorous protection of intellectual property rights essential to innovation and economic growth.

NAFTA is all about enforcing exclusive private property rights and little to do with free trade or free labour markets. The Yanks could arbitrarily tell us to stick any future carbon taxes where the sun doesnt shine while our corrupt stooges navel gaze on their self-imposed political impotence