Free Trade Is Not Fair Trade
Stephen Harper has been travelling around the world, signing “free” trade deals like a hockey player signing autographs. But those deals have been particularly detrimental to Ontario’s economy — and…
free trade
Mel Clark 1921-2014
Mel Clark, a long time trade negotiator for Canada, passed away on March 14. His Notice of Death in the April 24 Globe and Mail describes him as “an independent…
What Occupy Vancouver Could Be Up To
While the worldwide reboot of the Occupy Movement is afoot, Occupy Vancouver version 2.0 is still notional. However, if you want to see a little bit of what it could…
Did the US Take a Bite Out of Canada-Korea Trade?
On last night’s The National, Terry Milewski introduced the Canada-Korea trade deal as follows: The truth is that Canada is a latecomer to free trade with South Korea. The European…
Harper’s South Korea Trip
I am not against free trade per se, it has its benefits in expanding markets and bringing our world together. When people are trading with each other and making money,…
Cheap T-Shirts Keep Harper in Power
Whenever I read stories about corporations wanting to do the right thing, I never hold my breath. Clothing corporations, the sector where “sweatshops” originates, want us to believe they care.…
NAFTA at 20: State of the North American Worker
Twenty years since its passage, NAFTA has displaced workers on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, depressed wages, weakened unions, and set the terms of the neoliberal global economy. By…
Canada-Europe Deal Not About Trade
I have the following letter to the editor in today’s Prince Albert Daily Herald: Canada-Europe Deal Not About Trade In their letter of Dec. 3, Darryl Hickie and other Sask.…
Wordsmithing 80,000 Jobs
Last week’s federal throne speech stated, “The Government will soon complete negotiations on a comprehensive economic and trade agreement with the European Union . This agreement has the potential to…
Canada’s Trade Deficit with the EU Doubles
On last night’s Lang & O’Leary Exchange, I debunked the claim that the trade deal between Canada and the European Union (EU) will create 80,000 Canadian jobs. The conservative panelists…
Naomi Klein urges unions to join climate change fight
In a speech delivered at the founding convention of Canada’s new super-union, UNIFOR, award-winning journalist, best selling author and activist, Naomi Klein, urged unions to take action on climate change…
Can Canadians Really “Buy Into” Mexico?
A recent investment advice column in the Globe and Mail (by David Milstead, August 3) highlighted some surprising facts about Mexico’s economy. The bullish author suggested Mexico will be a…
Will CETA Help Tories… Or Hurt Them??
With Prime Minister Harper making the diplomatic rounds in Europe, media interest has heightened this week regarding the potential free trade agreement which his government is trying to negotiate with…
Why Is Harper So Fervent About Free Trade?
Much has been written about the Harper government’s obsession with concluding a variety of trade deals; probably one of the most worrisome in terms of its implications for Canadian sovereignty,…
Off track betting #nlpoli
That big, ginormous phone-banging-up, trade dispute thingy with evil Ottawa? So not happening any more. "We seem to be back on track. We have alignment," Premier Kathy Dunderdale told reporters…
If they, do it is wrong #nlpoli
On Monday, Kathy Dunderdale said it was wrong for the federal government to try and jam her up by connecting the federal loan guarantee on Muskrat Falls to free trade…
Dunderdale and Dalley tell different trade talk stories #nlpoli
Premier Kathy Dunderdale (via NTV): We’re looking for a ‘carve-out’ on the minimum processing regulations … so they’ll be exempted, and we want access to the European market on a…
Polozogistics: Nine Thoughts About the Choice of the New Bank of Canada Governor
1. He’s Number Two: Stephen Poloz was widely acknowledged in economic and political circles as the second-best choice for the top job at the Bank of Canada. So the surprise…
In grade 9 or 10 French class, we had an assignment to write a…
In grade 9 or 10 French class, we had an assignment to write a page of text in French and accompany it with some graphics. I chose to write about…
A Warning for Post-Mulroney Canada
The Conservative heavens aligned and brought us the magic of Thatcher, Reagan and Mulroney. The Gang of Three then introduced us to the new era of free trade, outsourcing and…