Task Force Email

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

With due respect, I send you this note of my objections to the recommendations being considered by the Task Force on the Future of North America.

FINANCIAL SECTOR: the loss of our own currency in a "North American currency union" would signal the end of Canadian fianancial sovereignty. Canada would become the next Argentina.

RESOURCES SECTOR: The USA already has claim to some 60% of our resources through NAFTA. Rather than using our resource wealth as bargaining tools to ensure their preservation, we would be further dissipating them through the 'resource pact' being considered. We won't be able to afford our OWN energy!

DEFENCE: There is not now, nor has there ever been any need for 'military integration into American forces'. This is not integration: it's absorbtion.

BORDERING ILLUSIONS. Having a customs union, a common market, a 'harmonized' border system, a North American security perimiter and Passport would further blur our sense of independence and clearly limit Canada's choices as to, say, health and safety standards, gun control, drug control, and so on.

STRUCTURE: The Task Force conducts its "talks" secretly, with no open debate, so it is undemocratic. It is biased, as it is made up of only big business representatives. While big business might profit from such recommendations, the vast majority of citizens would not! For them, there is no representation on this so-called Task Force.

TERMINOLOGY TRANSLATIONS: 'currency union' = $US; 'resource pact' = resource control; 'integration' = assimilation; 'harmonization' = hemorrhaging south.

Mr. Prime Minister, surely it is clear that these recommendations are NOT in the best interests of Canada or Canadians!
You have shown, through your decision on Missile Defence, that you can say 'No' to proposals or recommendations not in Canada's best interests. Hopefully you will do so again.

If you were to stand tall for Canada on this issue, the legacy you would leave Canadians would be profound indeed.

I earnestly hope that you will rise to the occasion, grasp the nettle, and do all within your power to prevent these clearly anti-Canadian recommendations from ever seeing the light of day.

You could turn Canada once again towards its independent, rightful path of healthy sovereignty and stability: A VISION FOR CANADA. If you would do that, Mr. Prime Minister, Canadians would never forget you. We would owe you our gratitude indeed, and always. Truly, your place in Canadian history as one of our Great leaders would be secure.

Yours truly,
John Riddell