In an effort to convince the reader of the importance of forming this proposed coalition of his, Ryan does broaden the discussion to include the detrimental effects that NAFTA has had and will continue to have on our economy, especially in regards to the security of our future energy supply, and he also discusses the likely negative consequences of continuing down the deep integration road if the Conservatives and Martinite Liberal types are not stopped before it is too late.
In light of the importance of the topic and the likely consequences that will result if the right wing, neo-con agenda in Canada is allowed to proceed without an effective opposition, I didn't find it that long a piece or that difficult to get through.
........An objective accounting shows that the promised benefits of the FTA and NAFTA were never realized.
But it's in the energy sector that the FTA/NAFTA chickens have really come home to roost. As I pointed out in my article:
With the Free Trade Agreement and later NAFTA we're locked into exporting 70 percent of our oil and 56 percent of our natural gas, and with the proportionality provision, the amount of our exports can only go higher--in perpetuity. Our reserves are quickly depleting and because of NAFTA we have absolutely no control of our own resources. This is insanity. To defend Canada's interests, our federal government should renegotiate NAFTA to eliminate the proportionality clause (Mexico never agreed to this), and if the US should refuse, we should give the required six months notice and abrogate NAFTA, since the US ignores its rulings anyway. This would once again give us control of our energy resources and our economy as well.
SNIP
A further crucial issue that must be part of a coalition platform is the matter of "deep integration" with the USA. Although not known to most Canadians, the previous Martin government, without consent from Parliament, and probably with only the briefest of obfuscating mention to the Liberal caucus, has already signed a statement of intent in a trilateral agreement with the USA and Mexico to supercede NAFTA with what has been called by its proponents a "deep integration" policy with the USA. Without any fanfare, the first stage of the "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America" was signed by President Bush, President Fox, and Prime Minister Martin on March 23, 2005 in Waco, Texas. The second stage, with work-plans on its further implementation, was signed in Ottawa on June 27, 2005 on behalf of Canada by Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan and Industry Minister David Emerson. Its full implementation would apparently take effect after signing further agreements in 2006 and 2007, so this is now in the hands of the Harper government. It appears that if these further agreements are not signed, this calculated endeavour to change the very nature of Canada, without any public disclosure or debate, would die as unfinished business. To make sure that this happens, the issue of "deep integration" must be in the platform of a Liberal-NDP coalition.
SNIP
When it comes to defence and military matters, there is no mention of Canada's traditional role of peacekeeping. Instead we would be expected to make massive new investments in the military to ensure the "interoperability of Canadian and United States armed forces on land, at sea and in the air." Clearly this means that defence and foreign policy would be blended to meet America's expectations, so that we would be ready and willing to be a part of any future "coalition of the willing." This has ominous implications for Canada considering that the US has now adopted a "first strike" position (even with nuclear weapons) and reserves the right to attack any country it sees as being hostile, regardless of UN Security Council decisions.
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