Local provincial NDP candidate Romayne Smith Fullerton has called for full political and public discussion on the terms and conditions of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently.
“During the past four years there has been little or no political or public debate in this province leading up to the signing of this agreement in principle,” she said. “Surely, during the ratification process, which will take 18 to 24 months, it cannot be left to corporations, vested interest groups and back room discussions on an agreement that potentially will have a tremendous social and economic impact on our community and on individuals.”
Noting that Perth-Wellington is the largest producer of hogs and milk in the province, Smith Fullerton stated, “We already know some of the potential results of this agreement on the riding’s vital agricultural industry. The hog producers may benefit through increased export quotas while local dairy farmers will take an estimated $6-million hit as a result of the agreement to increase the import of European cheese. When one considers the multiplier effect of that $6-million loss on local communities the economic impact could be significantly larger across the riding.”
“We have also heard the concerns of local, artisan cheese makers who must now compete with a heavily subsidized European industry.” she said.
“There have been soothing words from both the federal and provincial governments about compensation, but when, how much and will the process be simple, fair and equitable needs to be known and considered before we decide.”
Smith Fullerton expressed concern CETA may be the first step toward dismantling Canada’s supply management system. “Supply management, which has served this country well, will be under heavy attack by countries such as New Zealand and others, who for their own self-interest, will pressure Canada to dismantle the system in the forthcoming negotiations of the Trans Pacific Partnership. I worry that if the Harper government is pushed to the wall concerning their energy agenda our dairy farmers may have to pay a price.”
Smith Fullerton expressed concern about the potential financial pressure the extension of patent protection to European pharmaceutical companies may have on Ontario’s health care budget. “We need also to know more details about the effect these provisions will have on the cost of drugs to individuals and families who rely on the less costly generic brands,” she said.
Smith Fullerton stressed that it is incumbent upon the Harper government, who claim the agreement will result in 80,000 net new jobs, to demonstrate what kind of jobs and where they will be and over what time frame. She noted economic forecasts from the Centre for Policy Alternatives, as an example, indicate CETA may further weaken an already fragile industrial base in Ontario resulting in job losses.
“During the past decade or so we have seen a flight of capital and jobs to other parts of the world resulting in the shuttering of factories and loss of jobs in Stratford and elsewhere in this riding to be replaced by temporary or contract positions for lower pay, no benefits or security and limited prospects,” she said, “That’s not the kind of future I want for this riding or this province.”
“It is not about opposition, it is about the citizens of this riding and this province having the right to know the facts before they can make an informed decision on CETA,” she added.
