NDP Launches National Campaign To Expose SPP
Posted on Tuesday, August 21 at 11:01 by sthompson
Please keep your letters, emails, phone calls coming. Your support and encouragement is greatly appreciated and sends great energy to the entire NDP Caucus.
In solidarity,
Peter Julian, Member of Parliament (Burnaby-New Westminster)
NDP Trade Critic
Tel: (613) 992-4214 Fax: (613) 947-9500
TTY: (613) 992-4249
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From: NDP/NPD Communications
Sent: August 20, 2007 3:47 PM
To: NDP/NPD Communications
Subject: NDP LAUNCHES NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO EXPOSE SPP / LE NPD LANCE UNE CAMPAGNE NATIONALE POUR DÉVOILER LE PSP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 20, 2007
NDP LAUNCHES NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO EXPOSE SPP
As Harper meets behind closed doors, the NDP holds public forums to raise awareness
OTTAWA – Today, the NDP is launching a national campaign to halt further implementation of the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) agenda. The launch will take place at a public forum hosted by NDP MP Paul Dewar (Ottawa-Centre) and will feature leading opponents of the SPP: Rick Arnold, coordinator of Common Frontiers, Gustavo Iruegas, minister of International Relations for the Legitimate Government of Mexico, Anne Wright, former U.S. Army colonel and anti-war activist, and NDP International Trade critic Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster).
“Harper is fast tracking the complete sellout of our sovereignty. We’ve seen this happen with the softwood sellout and the ongoing campaign of privatization of our public services and policies. Like the Liberals before him, Harper is ignoring the will of Parliament and excluding Canadians form the decision-making process. The Conservatives must conduct a transparent and accountable public debate of the SPP process. I am appealing to all Canadians to join the NDP in this fight,” noted NDP Leader Jack Layton.
The NDP has denounced the SPP agenda and process as being anti-democratic and has been fighting it in Parliament since it was launched in the first place by then-Liberal prime minister Paul Martin in 2005. The SPP infringes on Canada’s sovereignty, and has grave implications for Canada’s ability to develop and implement its own policies and directions in such key areas as human rights, water, energy, food safety, health, security policy and civil rights.
The NDP’s public forum tour will kick off today in Ottawa. Other venues are set for Regina, Sault Ste. Marie, Fredericton, and Halifax. More dates will be announced in the coming days.
The campaign will focus on helping inform Canadians about the realities of the SPP agenda and its serious implications for Canada.
“The NDP is working alongside civil society groups and labour unions to increase pressure on the Harper government to stop SPP implementation until there is a meaningful public consultation and a full debate and a vote in Parliament,” stated Peter Julian.
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For more information please contact:
Karl Bélanger, Senior press secretary, office of Jack Layton: 613-720-6463
Mooña Lahbabi, office of Peter Julian, MP: 613-222-4074
***********************************
POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE
LE 20 AOÛT 2007
LE NPD LANCE UNE CAMPAGNE NATIONALE POUR DÉVOILER LE PSP
Alors que Stephen Harper participe à des réunions à huis clos, le NPD tient des forums publics pour sensibiliser les gens
OTTAWA – Aujourd’hui, le NPD lance une campagne nationale visant à mettre un frein à la mise en œuvre du soi-disant Partenariat pour la sécurité et la prospérité (PSP). Le lancement aura lieu lors d’un forum public animé par le député néo-démocrate Paul Dewar (Ottawa-Centre). Le forum mettra en vedette d’importants opposants au PSP : Rick Arnold, coordinateur de Common Frontiers, Gustavo Iruegas, ministre des Relations internationales du gouvernement légitime du Mexique, Anne Wright, ancienne colonelle de l’armée américaine et activiste anti-guerre, et le critique du NPD en matière de commerce international, Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster).
« Stephen Harper essaie de faire adopter à la hâte cette trahison à notre souveraineté. Nous l’avons vu avec l’entente odieuse sur le bois d’œuvre et la privatisation continue de nos services et nos politiques publics. Tout comme les libéraux qui l’ont précédé, M. Harper ne tient pas compte de la volonté du Parlement et il exclut les Canadiens du processus de prise de décisions. Il faut que les conservateurs tiennent un débat public, transparent et responsable sur le PSP. Je lance un appel à l’ensemble des Canadiens : joignez-vous au NPD dans cette lutte », a déclaré le chef du NPD, Jack Layton.
Le NPD a dénoncé le programme et les processus du PSP, soulignant son caractère anti-démocratique et luttant contre sa mise en œuvre depuis que l’ancien premier ministre libéral Paul Martin l’a lancé en 2005. Le PSP empiète sur la souveraineté canadienne et portera atteinte à la capacité du Canada d’établir ses propres politiques dans des domaines essentiels, dont les droits de la personne, l’eau, l’énergie, la sécurité des aliments, la santé, la politique en matière de sécurité et les droits civils.
La tournée du forum public du NPD commencera aujourd’hui à Ottawa. Elle passera également à Regina, à Sault Ste Marie, à Fredericton et à Halifax. De plus amples détails seront annoncés dans les prochains jours.
La campagne vise à renseigner les gens sur les réalités du PSP et sur ses conséquences sérieuses pour le Canada.
« Le NPD travaille en collaboration avec des groupes de société civile et des syndicats pour exercer une pression accrue sur le gouvernement Harper en vue de mettre un frein à la mise en œuvre du PSP jusqu’à ce qu’il y ait une consultation publique, un débat et un vote au Parlement », a déclaré le député Julian.
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Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez contacter :
Karl Bélanger, Secrétaire de presse sénior, bureau Jack Layton : 613-720-6463
Mooña Lahbabi, bureau de Peter Julian, député : 613-222-4074
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Vote independent, or select "none of the above" by voting with your feet. Demand change to our fundamentally flawed electoral process so that political dictatorships are undermined rather than promoted.
Usually, voting independent just means you're voting for someone with almost no say in government unless they manage to become a swing vote when that rare situation comes up. Independents get very little time to speak in the House and have very little help doing vital things like research. Independents can also change their platform with the wind, assuming they even have one to start--prime example I've seen was our independent federal candidate in Peace River, Bill Given, who changed his positions at every all candidates' forum we had (something our local media may have noticed had they ever attended more than one each). Being independent doesn't automatically mean you're any better sort of politician than a party one.
The NDP at least has voiced opposition to the SPP, and doesn't take the corporate contributions that leave the other parties beholden to big business (one reason the corporate-friendly parties so often change their tune). If you really want to bet on a long shot or make a protest vote there's also the CAP. Or Green. Just vote.
Or run yourself!! Politicians aren't some separate breed of people. They're often people who believe in something strongly enough to try and get elected so that they can have some actual ability to change things. Then you yourself can get in and be one of the good ones who does what they said they would.
I will always believe that grassroots political action can and should go hand and hand with political action at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. It's necessary to fight on all fronts to make a real difference.
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Once it was decided that Canada was to be a branch-plant society of American capitalism, the issue of Canadian nationalism had been settled.--George Grant
If only your solitary vote every 4 years was a small voice, but unfortunately it's not even that. Under the current 'first past the gate' electoral system, as an individual you can vote anyway you choose and it won't affect the outcome of any election except in the improbable case when your solitary vote swings it one way or the other, and even then it won't matter at all unless the election as a whole (which party assumes control) also happens to swing one way or the other by that one riding - an unlikely prospect indeed.
Me, I prefer to let the random sample of those who bother to show up do the work for me. It would be another matter if I could somehow organize a large enough sampling of people to vote one way or another, but my ability to affect the masses is very limited to say the least. What would probably have a much wider impact, is to motivate the people to want to show up and vote by actually giving them a true voice. A good start is to adopt a proportional vote system.
We can protest our broken electoral system by registering to vote, but not bothering to show up. The illusion of 'democracy and freedom' requires a sense that we have a voice and that our useless vote counted for something. With a clear message sent to the elites that we can all see through the illusion and are getting restless, perhaps then will there be a chance for some real change.
Perhaps the NDP is a lesser evil than the others, but I would not trust them anymore than all the rest just because (while not in power) they appear to oppose elements of the SPP.