As CETA negotiations wrapped up in Brussels last week, news media in Canada are covering the possible ramifications of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement being negotiated between Canada and the European Union.
In Victoria, host Ryan Price covered the recent round of negotiations this Friday on his CFAX 100 radio show. During the 20-minute segment, Price brought listeners up to speed on CETA and spoke about implications for local municipal governments. In the second half of the show, Price interviewed CUPE researcher and trade policy expert Blair Redlin.
Redlin, along with CUPE senior officer Carol Ferguson, was part of the Trade Justice Network delegation that went to Brussels to lobby Members of the European Parliament (MEPs); meet with unions and civil society groups; and monitor the negotiations. They wrote a daily blog from Brussels.
Newspapers are also covering CETA negotiations. The Grand Forks Gazette published an article last week about that city’s concerns. The article quotes Councillor Gene Robert, who proposed the motion that council write letters to their MLA and MP. “They’re negotiating our procurement ability, our ability to purchase as a municipality.
“I think these European major corporations are looking at possibly taking over the management of our water, our waste and of our recycling – these are big companies,” said Robert.
CUPE has recently launched the “Hey Premiers!” campaign so that Canadians can easily send their own letter to Canada’s premiers who are meeting in Vancouver on July 20 – 22. The heypremiers.ca website includes letters on health care, public infrastructure, improving Canada’s Pension Plan, and CETA. It just takes a few minutes to add your voice on these important issues.
Listen to the interview
Learn more about the dangers of CETA:
- Read CUPE National President Paul Moist’s letter in the Globe and Mail.
- Visit cupe.ca/ceta
- Watch the Youtube video
- Follow @CUPECETA on Twitter
- Join the Canadian Union of Public Employees Facebook page for update
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