The Star.com
POLITICS
NAFTA the hot tune for amigos' last dance
Apr 20, 2008 04:30 AM
SUSAN DELACOURT
OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA–Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made it clear that Canada should not be playing an active part in the U.S. presidential race.
But Harper, President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon are expected to use their meetings in New Orleans tomorrow and Tuesday to speak out in favour of the North American Free Trade Agreement –which has become a political football in this year's presidential contest.
"It's an institution, a creation well worth preserving," a Canadian official told reporters at a background briefing in advance of the New Orleans meeting.
A U.S. official, speaking in Washington on Friday, was more blunt.
"We are aware that some of the statements that have been made here (in the U.S.) have made actually bigger headlines in Canada and Mexico than they have here. And we expect the leaders to talk about it. We think NAFTA works. We think the record of its past 14 years shows that it works," said Dan Fisk, a director with the National Security Council.
"We want to find ways to, frankly, convince the American people from our perspective, first and foremost, that this is an arrangement that's worked for us and it's also worked for our neighbours. It's been a win-win situation," said Fisk, who was also briefing U.S. reporters in advance of this week's summit...
Full article: NAFTA the hot tune for amigos' last dance
Stumble It!
I think they pick that name so the uninformed public thinks it's a meeting of 'friends'. Little do they know they aren't invited, it's only big business that gets the invitation.
Or, does big business chair the summit, and the three leaders have to be invited?
I wonder how long before Bush has to flee to his ranch in Paraguay? But where will the other two go, when this whole fraud is uncovered ?
Ed Deak.