Continues from here:
http://rabble.ca/babble/canadian-politics/tpp-may-die-becauseofcanada
Chrystia Freeland To Sign Trans Pacific Partnership Deal in New Zealand
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/freeland-tpp-auckland-signing-1.3431631
"International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland is in New Zealand to put Canada's signature on the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal.
'There's a big difference between signing and ratifying,' the minister said. She hedged when asked if there's an economic study proving TPP's benefits: 'it's a big job and we are working on it.'
NDP trade critic Tracey Ramsey said Wednesday, 'if this deal's not good for Canadians then why are we there signing it?' While the signing is a 'very important momvent,' it's 'only a first step,' she said.
As politically useful as it may be to portray the parliamentary vote as the key step towards a final deal, that's not how international treaties work notes an academic who studies the constitutional powers of difference branches of government.
When it comes to ratification, Parliament is 'a political arm, and not a legal one,' the University of Ottawa's Philippe Lagasse told CBC news. 'I think there's a legitimate critique of saying 'are the consultations merely a grand PR exercise?'
Finally, it's cabinet's job, not Parliament's to ratify.
'The difficulty is that it's already been negotiated,' Lagasse said. 'I'm just worried that it's going to give a false impression that somehow you're in a position after government signs to renegotiate.'
'If it is a take it or leave it situation...what role will the House play in scrutinizing this?' he said, notifying that it will be interesting to see if there's a free vote.'
Freeland took her time confirming her attendance. Her department hasn't been forthcoming about the signing ceremony."
Good thing she has her 'dear friend', 'teacher' and 'probably the smartest person I know, 'one of the key people steering the world economy' to turn to for advice:
http://dailyheraldtribune.com/2015/04/08/taking-summers-advice-defies-logic
NO #tpp
"The most harmful trade-pact ever." - MSF
"A corporate coup d'etat by stealth" - The Nation
NO TPP!