Canada, Mexico, U.S. release blueprint for tight economic and security tie

[Spazito]

snip

The proposals range from the mundane to the highly controversial: finding common specifications for dangerous goods containers, for example; and developing common biometric travel documents and visa requirements.

There's a commitment to pursuing a North American steel industry strategy, continental compatibility in automobile standards and removing requirements for "rules of origin" on $30 billion of trade goods.

Standardized food-safety regulations, pesticide-residue rules and veterinary drugs are in the mix, as is a flu pandemic plan.

snip

"With today's announcement, we are setting out over 300 specific, concrete milestones in our work plans," Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan said at a news conference packed with business leaders and officials.

more

http://www.canada.com/news/national/story.html?id=89287c90-46ce-4bab-9145-f052b2345786

This is fucking bullshit, imo, especially this:

"Standardized food-safety regulations, pesticide-residue rules and veterinary drugs are in the mix, as is a flu pandemic plan."

I heard McLellen say we will no long do our own testing and will trust the US FDA with regard to approval of drugs, etc. NOTE how she treated any concerns expressed 'with disdain'. I am livid and fired off an e-mail expressing my outrage. I hope others will too.

[LibertyorDeath]

1. You're right there's no way this will fly with Canadians

If they know about this they will reject it.
"Standardized food-safety regulations, pesticide-residue rules and veterinary drugs are in the mix, as is a flu pandemic plan."

[CHIMO]

2. Ho Hum

So what else is new?

We have been going down this path since the FTA in the 1980's.

No one is flushing out the questions. It is all led by industry and the political party on the right. In addition to that the large automotive unions don't want to rock the boat, so some of our other political parties won't examine the consequences.

What else does one expect?

[Spazito]

3. I think if Canadians knew that we are no longer going to do our

own testing on drugs from the US or Mexico, that could be the 'hook' to make them sit up and take notice of what is happening. I intend to write a letter to the editor, etc, and highlight that aspect of this new 'agreement on principles'. I know when you talk about trade in general, Canadians yawn and move on to something else but drug safety is something they can understand and support, imo, am hoping so anyway.

[Mother Jones]

4. To me, this is the scariest issue in years.

It's horrifying.... This is when we need Jack Layton to step to the plate and yell loudly.

Appathetic Canadians NEED to understand what this is all about. This should be the headline in our news!!!

Council of Canadians has some good info as well;
http://www.canadians.org/display_document.htm?COC_token=coc_token&id=1097&isdoc=1&catid=138

I'm with you, emailing, phoning anyone who will listen about how bad this is for us. Paul Martin is selling us out.