tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post4354027359991568914..comments2024-03-28T22:02:16.520-04:00Comments on Politics and its Discontents: UPDATED: CETA: The Real DealLornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-87408400718722107672016-10-28T08:34:24.673-04:002016-10-28T08:34:24.673-04:00Thanks for the information and link, John. Given t...Thanks for the information and link, John. Given that the Trudeau government seems to share the same enthusiasms as the previous government, it is probably safe to conclude that it is business as usual under our 'new' regime.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-28429697396404793832016-10-28T03:25:57.429-04:002016-10-28T03:25:57.429-04:00I've never understood that as well, Lorne. Wh...I've never understood that as well, Lorne. While I will continue to suspect that interpersonal business networking and development of future client lists are primary factors, Gus Van Harten suggests that it might have something to do with the status of Canada as the foremost flag-of-convenience for the resource extraction industry:<br /><br />http://www.troymedia.com/2016/10/26/real-reason-europeans-oppose-ceta/<br /><br />"Harper's affection for the ISDS may be explained by the interests of Canada's resource industry. Canadian mining companies have used ISDS to pressure countries that were considering limits on resource projects, such as in the troubling story of Gabriel Resources' proposed Rosia Montana mine in Romania." <br /><br />That's about the only other rationalization I've ever encountered, yet still possibly a simple and understandable win-win business convenience for Harper & Associates.John B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-18826098871348484142016-10-27T16:46:05.338-04:002016-10-27T16:46:05.338-04:00It is beyond my understanding as well, Rural. Not ...It is beyond my understanding as well, Rural. Not once have i ever heard a cogent defence of such provisions. It is time we all started demanding some answers from this government.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-7134406305932685622016-10-27T15:08:31.067-04:002016-10-27T15:08:31.067-04:00"......of much greater concern is the power i..."......of much greater concern is the power it gives corporations through the investor state dispute settlement mechanism.,,,,,,,Given that Canada has been sued many times under NAFTA, we should all be very, very wary of ensconcing those rights further,"<br />Therein lays the whole problem with these "trade agreements" they are not an agreement about trade so much as (in large part) a corporate driven protectionism of their 'right' to override local decisions to protect their economy. Why ANY government would sign their rights to regulate their own economy, environment, and choice of local supplier over a foreign national without interference is belong my understanding! Ruralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11814103548500393628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-35463884613908030812016-10-27T14:51:56.473-04:002016-10-27T14:51:56.473-04:00Distressingly true, Owen.Distressingly true, Owen.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-53208159037619200362016-10-27T14:10:33.385-04:002016-10-27T14:10:33.385-04:00New faces, the same agenda.New faces, the same agenda.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.com