Canada Day

To-day is Canada Day. It is a day to celebrate our Nation's birthday. Let's hope our Government begins to "get" it soon. Canada will not be well served by any government which continually 'forgets' us in its negotiations and discussions with our vaunted neighbour to the south.

This includes the WTO and NAFTA agreements. Very seldom will Canada's government play to win. As a result, Canadian farmers of all stripes and Canadian business ( witness the softwood lumber fiasco) are often the losers, when other countries negotiate trade rules and then fail to play by the rules.

From a Conservative party supporters' e-mail list:

"Feverish negotiations have been going on this past week to finalize the softwood agreement of April 27th for July 6th when President and Prime Minister meet.

True to form the Americans have been upping the ante. The latest being that the Agreement be subject to termination by either of the signatories."

"The Americans have dishonoured the NAFTA agreement.

My view is that rather than signing an agreement with no concrete benefits except the return of some of the monies our lumber companies have had to pay, litigation be continued to clarify that the U.S. Administration has broken its word on NAFTA .

For whatever reasons the present Government of Canada is intent on abandoning the use of the courts and is prepared to trust the Americans in a new agreement."

The current WTO discussions are another case in point. Agriculture has taken many big hits from these discussions, while other governments go merrily on their way and "interpret" the agreement as they like.

At the same time Canadians are forced by their government to make changes and play by these rules, no matter what. In addition, the government has a distaste for international battles on the trade front.

Canada seldom fights for her rights at NAFTA or WTO appeal panels, initiated by Canada. We will defend if challenged but hardly ever will we force these issues on our own.

There are many other battles we should fight to preserve what is 'best' about Canada. To date few have been willing to do so.