After dodging a bullet and almost being defeated late last year, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government recently tabled their much anticipated budget. It included a massive $85 billion deficit over the next five years. The Liberals have proposed an amendment that would hold the government more accountable, in order to ensure that budgetary funds are being used accordingly. If expectations are not met, the Liberals have said that they are prepared to bring down the Harper minority government. It came out during the election in October of 2008, that the Conservatives were set to begin negotiations with the European Union (EU) on deeper economic integration. In spite of the current global economic uncertainty, Canadian and EU officials are busy laying the groundwork for an economic and trade agreement, and negotiations could begin in the next several months.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Towards-a-Canada-EU-Econom-by-Dana-Gabriel-090128-19.html
Stumble It!
Much, if not most of our lives are spent for the protection of our bodies, homes, families, properties, animals, etc. etc. Then we have incredible military expenditures to "defend our countries".
So, why in hell is it wrong when a society, or country, wants to protect its economy from outside predators, who either use physical or psychological force, in the forms of armed invasions, or with the perceived power of imaginary capital to walk in and take over ? In the name of "free trade" of course which is about as free as Stalin's USSR.
We must have arms and weapons to defend our sacred borders, while our governments hang out signs with "CANADA FOR SALE" written on them.
Were we better, or worse off in the 50s and 60s, when we had import duties and tariffs, while our manufacturing and other industries were growing, employing more and more well paid people, or now, when under the criminal organizations of the WTO and NAFTA, our industrial base is wrecked, millions are employed in minimum wage part time jobs and our braindead economists and bought politicians are selling off our real capital, our resources, while calling it GDP and "income" ?
And now, we also have ongoing secret negotiations by our government for the "free movement of labour", so that even the exploitation and theft of our resources can be done with imported labour, displacing more Canadians to become "more competitive", of course. Which means stealing more from all sides.
Export based industries are dead end, suicidal schemes. The signs are all around us and now even the totally misdeveloped economy of China is beginning to feel the effects of this criminal nonsense.
Exports, imports, international trade are very important economic realities, but only for items and resources we don't have and can not make. Like the occassional glass of wine vs. total alcoholism.
The most efficient economic systems are built on self sufficiency from the individual to community, national and international levels, operating in overlapping, cooperating circles and not fighting and competing against each other.
All forms of competition increase costs and waste, as we can see in the obscene history of the presently ruling neoclassical market economic theory for the past 35-40 years, inflating living costs by over 1000 %, and killing people with hunger and destitution by the millions every year, while the power and profits of the multinational corporate mafia are rising every day.
But then, as JK Galbraith said it many years ago : "The purpose of competition is to eliminate competition". In other words, the legalization of crime against humanity and the Earth.
Ed Deak, Big Lake, BC.
In light of the recent U.S. protectionism, a trade deal between Canada and the EU might be accelerated.
I agree that this may be good for Canada in terms of short-term tactics . However , we must bear in mind that the EU's ulterior motive will always be the US , Canada being a mere stepping-stone. I spent many years in Europe for my career : Europeans know little about Canada other than the old clichés (harsh winters , vast forests , Niagara Falls, De Gaulle's "Vive le Québec Libre !" , Céline Dion , Alberta oil, etc.). They do know that Canada's GNP is only 10% of the US . For all intents and purposes , Canadians are basically perceived as "entry-level Americans" providing easier initial access to North America .
Even the latter point is losing steam . In the Trudeau years , many French companies came over and started North American operations in QC . Most of them have long since moved direct to the US and starting in QC is now widely seen as "une fausse bonne idée".
In other words , the idea per se is good . Implementing it in Canada's lasting favour will be awfully tricky (assuming one can get the EU to speak with one voice to begin with , which just isn't minced liver).
My concern is that bad trade deals and globalization are big reasons why we find ourselves in a global economic crisis. What is the solution, more globalization? We need to handle our own business and look after our best interests above everything else. If that's called PROTECTIONISM- so be it.
If the USA hadn't poured in food supplies at the time, millions might have starved to death.
One of the main purposes for the establishment of the EU was for the Western powers being able to buy up and take control of the remaining resources and agricultural potentials of East Europe.
This is what European colonization has been about for the past 500 years and the demands and needs have become larger with the population explosion.
Without our resources both the EU and the USA are dead meat. We've been counting on this and have left city life 30 years ago to set up our own self sustaining set up to the greatest degree possible. Of course, total self sustainability is impossible, but a fair degree can be accomplished by people with a bit of brains and knowledge.
So, my only advice is: If you have the slightest chance, get the hell out of the cities, while you can. One way, or another , you'll find out why, as we have 60 years ago in Europe. The difference is that we've never forgotten the experience and have done something about it, while we could. And Canada is still the ideal, best place on Earth to do it.
Ed Deak, Big Lake, BC.