Rally opposes free trade deal with Europe

About a dozen people rallied outside the Sudbury courthouse Friday afternoon to protest an international trade deal they say threatens Canadian sovereignty.

Led by the Sudbury Chapter of the Council of Canadians, the group aimed to raise awareness about CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, a deal signed by Canada and the European Union a year ago.

A government website promoting the deal said CETA will offer Canada access to markets in Europe, and will be an even more important trade achievement than the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“It will open new markets to our exporters throughout the EU and generate significant benefits for all Canadians,” the site -- international.gc.ca – says.

“The Government of Canada has made opening new markets through agreements like CETA a priority—just one way it is creating jobs and opportunities for Canadians in every region of the country.”

But protestors Friday said such deals allow corporations to challenge Canadians laws, regulations and policies that protect the environment and Canadians' health, as well as harm local business opportunities.

"As far as the Council of Canadians is concerned, trade is good,” said André Clément, head of the local chapter. “Sustainable business is good. Prosperity is good. But CETA is not."

"The agreement has been signed by our prime minister and the European Union, but not the respective European governments. But Canada is a signatory to it now."

He said 50 municipalities have passed a motion saying they don't want to be part of CETA, as well as 2.5 million people in Europe.

"No we have to deal with it," Clément said, encouraging voters to find out where candidates and parties stand on the trade deal.

He said all local candidates running in the Oct. 19 federal election were invited to Friday's rally – with the exception of local Conservative candidates, because the part supports CETA.

Only the two local Green candidates showed up – David Robinson (Sudbury) and Stuart McCall (Nickel Belt).

Robinson said under the deal, patent laws for drug will be extended from 50 years to 70, something Canadians don't want and were never consulted about.

"Do Canadians really want enforcement mechanisms to keep kids from videotaping movies?" Robinson asked? "Maybe we would decide those are good things, but we haven't made those decisions."
McCall said CETA will hurt efforts to boost local food production.

"Things like CETA (and) Bill C18 severely limit a farmer's opportunity to make a decent living," he said. "Rather than hurting the small farmer, government needs to make it easier for small farmers so we can all enjoy local, fresh, organically grown produce.

"We cannot put up with trade deals that are cooked up in a backroom.”

Tony Chezzi, another local member of the council, agreed.

"I'm not as concerned about the economic aspects of CETA as I am about the democratic aspects of CETA," Chezzi said. "As the negotiations progressed, they were done in secret. We had no access to any information.

"Anything that is done behind closed doors is not in the public interest. How we can make any kind of informed decision?"

Founded in 1985, the Council of Canadians is Canada’s is a social action organization with network of 60 chapters across the country.