NAFTA NDP Cross Border Actions

[1]  Subject: "Naftagate" leak by the Harper government - Reply Jack
Layton
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:33:12 -0400
From: Layton.J@parl.gc.ca

Thank you for taking the time to write regarding the "Naftagate" leak
by the Harper government. I have heard from many supportive Canadians
and Americans. To update you on this issue, I want you to know that I
have written to both Senators Obama and Clinton expressing the New
Democratic Party´s support to stand up for working families by
improving the continental trade deal. You can find out more be
checking the following links: http://www.ndp.ca/page/6236, 
http://www.ndp.ca/page/6279,
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_MR7tL7tWs.
Again, I appreciate your interest in this matter.
All the best,

Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada´s New Democrats

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[2] Jack Layton's letter to Hillary Clinton
March 1, 2008

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
United States Senate
476 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC
20510

Dear Senator Clinton:
Canadians are watching the Democratic Primaries with great interest,
particularly the debate around the future of the North American Free
Trade Agreement. Working Canadians, like working Americans, are
deeply concerned that this agreement has cost hundreds of thousands
of jobs and has not helped us build the greener, fairer economy that
we must leave as a legacy to our children.

I have heard you say: "Let´s get real about the future of trade in
this country, let´s get real about NAFTA. It simply isn´t working for
all Americans. I am not just going to talk about what is wrong with
NAFTA. I am going to fix it."

These are encouraging words.

It has become apparent that a rising tide does not in fact lift all
boats. Both of our countries have seen impressive economic growth
rates, increased productivity and investment flows. Yet, in the
United States, Mexico and Canada, income inequality has grown
dramatically in the almost fifteen years since NAFTA took effect. The
very wealthy have reaped most of the benefits of increased trade and
investment, while ordinary people have watched high- quality
manufacturing jobs move elsewhere. There is a growing gap between the
rich and the rest of the people.

In Canada, this prosperity gap has reached crisis proportions.
Despite the fact that most Canadians are working longer hours, 80% of
families lost ground or stagnated in both earnings and after-tax
returns compared to the previous generation. Real wages have not
increased in more than 30 years. The share of corporate profits in
our economy is at its highest point since 1961, yet the corporate
contribution to the public purse is declining.

In Canada, we have had ten budget surpluses in the last decade yet
most Canadians believe they are a mere paycheque away from poverty.
Eighty per cent of Canadians think the government should intervene to
close the gap between the income groups. But successive Canadian
federal governments have failed to deliver policies that will turn
this growing disparity around. While aboriginal peoples, single
mothers and recent immigrants are the most disadvantaged groups, the
middle class is also losing out.

The United States and Mexico face similar challenges albeit in quite
different contexts. In your own country, the erosion of social
security, the plight of the uninsured in health, the strength of
powerful business lobbies in Washington, the shocking poverty of the
working poor in African- American and Hispanic populations, are
realities you are intimately acquainted with. Your commitment to
resolving these issues explains the excitement your campaign has
generated across the country. In Mexico, despite constitutional
guarantees, the majority of people - including many migrant, self-
employed, informal sector workers and the unemployed -- have no
social assistance whatsoever. The crisis in the rural sector with the
most recent phase out of agricultural tariffs will throw millions
more into extreme poverty.

This growing inequality has become institutionalized through NAFTA
and will become even more so through the Security and Prosperity
Partnership (SPP). These agreements have provoked a chill on
government regulation of the economy as international trade rules
override domestic rights. Regulatory harmonization has trumped social
harmony. The provisions of Chapter 11 have unduly emphasized
corporate rights at the expense of our governments´ capacity to
regulate in the public interest This is sometimes correctly referred
to as a democratic deficit.

The New Democratic Party has noted for over a decade the inadequacies
of our free trade agreements that do not offer sufficient protection
for workers, for the environment, or indeed for the capacity of
governments to regulate in the public interest. We have also
expressed grave concerns about the dispute settlement process for
both its procedures and the non-respect of decisions rendered - as in
the case softwood lumber dispute between our two countries. NAFTA,
with all its weaknesses, was the first trade agreement to incorporate
side agreements on labour and environmental protection. As you have
noted, such side deals are not enough. While they provide
documentation on the growing problems in these areas and create
forums for trilateral cooperation, they do not have the authority to
sanction violations of rules or to put in place common solutions. The
promised levelling up of environmental and social standards has
simply not happened.

On behalf of the New Democratic Party of Canada, our caucus and our
membership, I warmly welcome your commitment to rethink NAFTA.
Everyday Canadians, Americans and Mexicans are ready for such
leadership. Leadership that is ready to tackle complex problems with
forward- looking solutions. Our two countries are trading nations,
close neighbours and culturally and historically related in many
ways. I look forward to strengthening these ties in a way that
respects the sovereignty of each of our countries and ensures that we
are each democratically accountable to our own people. Together, we
can prudently lay the groundwork to craft trade agreements which will
lead to improvements for the vast majority who have been left behind
since NAFTA came into effect in 1994.

The Democrats in the U.S. can count New Democrats in Canada as allies
in the vital effort to improve upon NAFTA and help build a modern
21st century North American economy that is prosperous, fair, and
sustainable for today´s families and future generations.

Sincerely yours,
Jack Layton, PC, MP, Ph.D

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[3] Jack Layton addresses Take Back America 2008
Mon 17 Mar 2008  |   Printer friendly
Remarks by NDP leader Jack Layton
Take Back America 2008 conference
Washington D.C.

Thank you for that warm introduction.

I´m honoured to have been invited to this important gathering of
progressive minds from across the United States.

Meeting with a few of you already in the short time I´ve been here I
can´t help but relate to so much of what "Take Back America" and the
"Institute for America´s Future" is working for.

So much of our realities in Canada are born out of the American
experience.

It´s not only the world longest unprotected border or a $500 billion
a year trading relationship that we share with each other.

We share in the inspiration of your great leaders and in the
achievements of your movements. We even share in the grief of your
tragedies and roll up our sleeves to help in your times of need.

We too mourned and have forever been affected by the tragedy of 9-11.
Like so many nations, Canada too lost lives that day and our world-
view has changed as result.

Our countries are true neighbours. Our peoples are true friends.

And my appeal to each and every one of you today stems from the need
for progressive minded North Americans to come together like never
before.

Because many of our struggles are the same.

The biggest being - the growing gap.

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The Growing Gap
More wealth is being created in North America than at any other time
- but working families and the middle class are working harder and
longer just to get by.

Ordinary Canadians - like ordinary Americans - worry every day about
how they will make ends meet this week, next week, next month.

In fact, the average Canadian today is squeezing in 200 more hours of
work a year, than they did just 9 years ago - and that´s just to keep
up.

Yet in the last 20 years, over half of all families have seen their
incomes drop.

Nearly two-thirds of Canadians say that they are not benefiting from
the economic growth that´s being generated.

Half fear that they are just a couple of pay checks away from falling
into poverty.

Canada´s middle class and working families are - like here in the US
-increasingly anxious about their future.

Anxious about the impact of climate change on their children and
grandchildren.

Anxious about the cost of prescription drugs for themselves and their

ageing parents.

Anxious about skyrocketing tuition fees and student debt that will
cripple their kids´ futures before they even have a chance to get
started.

Why are Canadians becoming more anxious?

Because while a few people at the top are enjoying the benefits of
the current economy - the rest aren´t.

CEO´s enjoy windfall salaries and bonuses; wages for everyone else
are stagnant.

The top 100 CEOs in my country now make 218 times more than the
average Canadian.

In just nine hours and 33 minutes they earn what it take the average
Canadian an entire year to earn.

And as a result, the middle class is falling behind.

That´s not right.

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NAFTA Improvements
During the debate in the lead-up to the Ohio and Texas primary, both
Senators Clinton and Obama stated unequivocally the need for
improvements to NAFTA.

I am here today to tell each and every one of you, and Senators
Clinton and Obama that you have an ally in Canada to improve the
labour and environmental standards in the North America Free Trade
Agreement.

We have before us an historic opportunity...
...an opportunity to build.

To forge a new coalition in North America.

So that when it comes to labour and environmental standards in North
America - our trade rules ensure a reach for the top, not a race to
the bottom.

Where the rights of the citizen, rival those of the corporation.

Where hard work is rewarded and polluters are punished.

And where the middle class can be assured fairness and future
generations can be assured a clean and sustainable environment.

And my friends...work is underway.

The New Democratic Party has begun to reach out to the US Democratic
Party.

Elected representatives from Canada, Mexico and the US led by Ohio
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur have launched a "Task Force on
Renegotiating NAFTA."
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This is a significant step in the journey to build a more progressive

trade regime in North America, but make no mistake - our Conservative

opponents will not let this happen without a fight.

It is a fight that must be waged.

It is a fight that we will win only by working together.

But we are up for it.

My friends together we can build a more prosperous and green North
America - that leaves no one behind.

Don´t let them tell you it can´t be done.

Thank you.

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