Privatizing Public and Municipal Services
Though very few Canadians are aware of it we are currently involved in a set of negotiations that have the potential to privatize public services including our water resources.
The Canada - European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will enter its next round of talks Oct. 18 to 22 in Ottawa. European multi-national corporations have their sights set on lucrative Canadian public contracts - including our valuable public services - with the goal of transferring $100 to $200 billion our local governments spend annually on goods and services into corporate profits that often leave the country - NAFTA on steroids.
The current federal government under the leadership of Stephen Harper intends to travel further along the route charted by Brian Mulroney when Mulroney signed off on the North American Free Trade Agreement against the express opposition of his own chief negotiator, Simon Reisman.
The fact that this fundamental change in who may end up controlling our drinking water, our public services (education, social programs, water treatment etc.), our food sovereignty, and even farmers' rights does seem to merit even a passing mention by the popular press. This phenomenon speaks volumes about the growing irrelevance of the media in covering the issues which are of greatest importance to the population.
It would therefore be most helpful if our local newspaper took the initiative to inform its readership of the negotiations currently underway and their potential impacts on average Canadians.
Bob Harris
Prince George
