To the Editor,
Despite Conservative hopes for success, latest negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal failed. On the day the election was called, ignoring ‘conventions of restraint’ on making country-changing decisions during an election campaign, an order in council was passed by the federal government to proceed with negotiations.
The TPP is the mother of all omnibus bills, negotiated under guidance from multinational corporations in secret despite a plea from negotiators from seven participating countries. Leaked chapters cover far more than traditional trade. Its 29 chapters of opaque jargon appear to privatize Crown corporations, converting them to profit-making entities (goodbye CBC), forbid preferential local or national procurement, and deregulate financial trading.
Our reward for approving this Trojan Horse into our democracy is a forecasted burst of trade-induced prosperity and jobs. However, this is based on economic models criticized by many. Despite the mess of multilateral and bilateral trade agreements previously signed, trade has grown by a mere 0.3 per cent annually, the worst in postwar history and trade deficits continue to grow.
Why bother with an election, what difference will any party make if we are really being governed by Pepsi, GM or Monsanto?
Liz FoxLantzville