Agenda of the Harper Government

In the Parliament

Parliament to Open September 19

The Parliament will reconvene on Monday, September 19, following the summer recess that began on June 26. One of the main features of the Harper agenda is the speed with which it is making significant changes to the arrangements of the Canadian state without any discussion amongst the people nor the Parliament. In order to assist the Workers' Opposition to deal with the various aspects of the Harper agenda and inform itself as to their significance, TML is providing information on what to expect as Parliament reconvenes and some of the significant developments that took place over the summer.

Legislation Passed in the Last Session

The last session of Parliament passed the following legislation:

C-2: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (Mega-trials)

C-3: Supporting Vulnerable Seniors and Strengthening Canada's Economy Act (Budget provisions)

C-6: An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of postal services

C-8: Appropriation Act No. 1, 2011-2012 (Budget allocation bill)

C-9: Appropriation Act No. 2, 2011-2012 (Budget allocation bill)

Government Bills Before the House of Commons

The following are the government bills carried forward from the last session. Other bills were brought forward from Members of Parliament and the Senate. (For a full listing of all legislation before the House of Commons see: www.parl.gc.ca.) Of particular note, an example of significant changes to the Canadian state is Bill C-7, legislation on Senate reform which involves the Harper government by-passing the Constitution.

C-1 An Act respecting the administration of oaths of office – At second reading

C-4: An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act and the Marine Transportation Security Act (Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act)–At second reading

C-5: Continuing Air Service for Passengers Act - At second reading. This was the back-to-work legislation introduced against the Air Canada workers following their strike action. The legislation has not yet been removed from the Parliamentary agenda despite the Air Canada workers returning to work.

C-7: An Act respecting the selection of senators and amending the Constitution Act, 1867 in respect of Senate term limits (Senate Reform Act) - At second reading

What to Expect According to the Throne Speech

The Throne Speech delivered by Governor General David Johnston on behalf of the Harper government set out the legislative agenda for the government for the first session of the 41st Parliament. The government claims that it contains the mandate it received from Canadians in the last election. For your information TML is providing its own summary and categories of the Throne Speech.

Cuts to Government Spending

Implement $4 billion of cuts to government spending through the Strategic and Operating Review, in the name of balancing the budget by 2014.

Reduce the "long-term pressure" on the pension and health systems caused by the "aging population."

Invest in private industries to increase "competitiveness."

Pensions

Implement a Pooled Registered Pension Plan.

Individual Tax Credits

Introduce Family Caregiver Tax Credit.

Introduce Children's Arts Tax Credit.

Anti-Worker Measures

Ensure a "highly skilled and flexible workforce."

Pushing Federal Control over Provincial Jurisdictions

Negotiate a new Canada Health Accord with the provinces (expires in 2014) with an emphasis on "reducing wait times."

Establish one national securities regulator, to eliminate the 13 that presently exist for each province and territory.

Political Reforms

Pass Bill C-7, the Senate Reform Act.

Changing the number of seats in the Parliament

Phase out of per-vote subsidy to political parties introduced in the Budget. This measure was slipped into the Budget. It is not clear whether the Harper government is planning to use passage of the Budget to make such a significant change to the Canada Elections Act without Parliament discussing and voting on the change on its own.

Law and Order

Fill two vacancies on the Supreme Court of Canada using a new process introduced in 2006 that provides Conservative MPs with a majority vote in selection.

Introduce an omnibus crime bill incorporating all the crime bills not passed in the last Parliament. This includes measures related to a wide range of areas including anti-terrorism laws, laws on self-defense and citizens arrest, minimum sentences etc.

Eliminate the long-gun registry.

Changes to the Indian Act

Introduce legislation to impose "matrimonial real property rights and protections" for people on reserves.

Require Chiefs and Councillors in First Nations Communities to publish salaries and expenses.

Establishment of a North American Security Perimeter

Implement the Beyond the Border Declaration establishing a North American security perimeter.

Streamline "regulatory cooperation" with the U.S.

Celebrate the War of 1812.

Immigration

Make changes to Canada's immigration system in the name of "protecting the sovereignty and integrity" of Canada.

Open Markets for the Monopolies

Eliminate the Canadian Wheat Board's public monopoly by unilaterally changing the Canadian Wheat Board Act in opposition to the will of the majority of the producers who make up the Wheat Board.

Continue negotiations to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union by 2012 and India by 2013.

Foreign Investment

Carry out changes to the Investment Canada Act in terms of defining what is a "net benefit" to Canada.

Red Tape Commission

Implement the recommendations of the Red Tape Commission launched in the last Parliament.

Strengthen Property Rights

Changes to the Copyright Act.

Resource Extraction

Change the regulatory and environmental assessment procedures for resource projects.

Complete the Dempster Highway by linking Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk.

Invest in "First Nations Land Management."

Fund "clean energy projects" such as the planned Lower Churchill hydroelectricity project.

Militarization of the North

Increase the presence of the Canadian government in the Arctic.

Interference in the Affairs of Other Nations

Establish an Office of Religious Freedom in Foreign Affairs.

Other

Development of a National Conservation Plan.

Other Things to Look for When Parliament Opens

A vote on another extension of Canada's participation in the NATO mission against Libya. The deadline established for the mission in the previous extension, supported by all the Parties in the House -- except the Greens -- was September 27. Reports indicate that this will likely come up soon after Parliament opens. The leader of government in the House, Peter Van Loan, has already indicated that the government will be extending the mission. To give the impression the decision has not already been made, his director of communications claimed that he misspoke when saying the government would extend the mission and that this decision would go through the Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs and ultimately the Parliament.

Approval of a new free trade agreement with Honduras. If the method of approval remains the same as the free trade agreement with Panama signed last year, the agreements will be tabled in the House of Commons for 21-sitting days. Once the 21-sitting days have ended, the Government can then table legislation to implement the Agreements.

Introduction of legislation that resulted from negotiations to establish a North American Security Perimeter. Reports indicate that the agreement will not be presented as a whole, rather bits and pieces will be presented to Parliament from almost 40 areas of government, none of which have been made public. It is likely the Harper government will try to hide the full extent of the changes by claiming they will "improve Canada's competitiveness, or security."

Developments During the Summer Recess

TML Weekly Information Project is providing an overview of some of the developments which took place during the summer recess of Parliament, some of which it has not previously reported. The developments reveal the sweeping range of the arrangements the Harper government is making to build a United States of North American monopolies and engaging in provocative actions that pose a threat to international peace and stability.

Increasing Federal Control of Provincial Jurisdictions
in the Name of Collaboration

From July 16-19, the Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference took place in Kananaskis, Alberta. The conference was attended by the Ministers of Energy and Mines from all provinces and territories, as well as by officials of the Federal Government. It is reported that U.S. government officials were also present. The major focus was the establishment of a National Energy Policy. According to their Action Plan entitled "Collaborative Approach to Energy," the Ministers agreed to collaborate on issues of energy supply, efficient energy use, and investments in "energy knowledge and innovation."

In related news, the Council of the Federation (the 13 provincial and territorial premiers) met July 20-22. The Council released a strategy entitled "Canada in the Global Economy." The aim is to "harness the common and individual strengths of provinces and territories and help position Canada strongly in the global economy," the document says. The Council also announced it would pursue a mission to Asia with the federal government within 12 months to "advance an ambitious international trade agenda for Canada." Reports also indicate that at the meeting, negotiations began on a new Canada Health Accord. Shortly after the meeting, it was reported that the Harper government will seek one national health accord, versus separate provincial agreements. This contradicts the stand it made in the Throne Speech where it indicated that it would negotiate an individual agreement with Quebec.

Immigration

On July 12, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney launched national consultations on Canada's immigration system. After meeting with "stakeholders" in Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, Kenney announced on August 29 on-line consultations for the public. According to the Minister, the aim of the consultations is to "seek feedback on immigration levels, including the appropriate level of immigration for Canada, and the most suitable mix between economic, family class and protected persons. Discussions on system management to provide improved services, such as reasonable processing times, and addressing issues such as fraud, will also be included."

On July 19, shortly after launching the consultations, the federal government sent letters to 1,800 Canadians telling them the government intended to revoke their citizenship. On July 21, Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews released a list of some 30 people the government accused of being war-criminals. On August 18, it expanded the list to include individuals who "failed to comply with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and have criminal convictions in Canada."

Reports also emerged over the summer that as part of a strategy to eliminate the back-log of refugee claims, the Harper government will launch a new Assisted Voluntary Removal program next year that will offer an inducement to "failed refugee claimants" of $2,000 and a flight to their country of origin. On August 17 it was reported that Canada has established an "anti-human smuggling" task force in which "almost a dozen police and intelligence agents" have been deployed to countries in South East Asia.

These developments take place at the same time as the Obama administration has announced that the "Secure Communities Program," which involves large scale deportations, would be expanded to the entire country and be placed under the control of the federal government.

Hereditary Rights of First Nations

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) reports that over the summer the Harper government accelerated its "resolution" of specific claims. The Aboriginal Affairs' website describes specific claims as dealing with the "past grievances of First Nations. These grievances relate to Canada's obligations under historic treaties or the way it managed First Nations funds or other assets, including reserve land." UBCIC reports that this was done by simply removing claims from its Specific Claims Inventory by rejecting them, closing them or other means -- creating the illusion that substantive progress has been made in resolving claims and clearing up the claims backlog. The Chiefs state "Canada's strategy appears to be aimed at transferring the large backlog of unresolved specific claims away from Indian Affairs and the Department of Justice and onto the back of the new Specific Claims Tribunal."

Law and Order

Reports from the annual meeting of the Canadian Bar Association from August 13-15 state that the meeting unanimously opposed the direction of the Harper government's upcoming omnibus crime bill. Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson is reported to have spoken at the meeting, claiming that the Harper government has a mandate for its omnibus bill following the election.

Supreme Court Appointments

Reports emerged over the summer that Opposition MPs are raising concerns about the Harper government's process of appointing two new Supreme Court Justices. Reports indicate that, unlike the Supreme Court selection advisory panel established under the Liberals in 2005, made up of one MP from each party in the House Commons and five drawn from outside legal experts, judges and the public, this committee is comprised of only five MPs, three from the Conservative Party. The committee is chaired by Conservative MP Candice Hoeppner. The other members of the committee are Conservative MPs Brent Rathgeber and Bob Dechert, NDP MP Joe Comartin and Liberal MP Irwin Cotler. Reports indicate that the committee is expected to submit its final list of three candidates to Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson by September 23, 2011 who it is said will make the final decision on the two eventual nominees with the Prime Minister.

Anti-Terrorism Laws

On September 7, in an interview with CBC, Harper revealed that his government will re-introduce two clauses from the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 that expired in 2007. As TML previously pointed out: One clause allows police to detain a so-called terrorist suspect without charges for three days versus the usual law that a charge must be laid within 24 hours. The other clause gives judges the power to interrogate a witness in secret and to send the witness to jail for refusal to comply.

Government Violation of the Law and Scandals

After the May 2 federal election, on July 15, Elections Canada announced that the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Peter Van Loan had violated election spending limits in the 2008 Federal Election. According to reports his campaign spent $93,689.05 when the allowable election expense limit in his Ontario riding of York-Simcoe was $89,499.52. Van Loan's official agent claims that the discrepancy was due to "an honest misunderstanding" and a "difference in accounting practices." The matter was apparently resolved as Elections Canada and Van Loan agreed he would spend under his limit by the same amount in the 2011 election. It has yet to be reported whether he complied with this resolution.

During the summer, it is being revealed that Treasury Board President Tony Clement chaired a small committee of mayors in his riding that approved spending of funds allocated for G8 projects. The information came to light as a result of Access to Information requests by the NDP regarding the use of G8 funds. Reports claim that applications for funds were made through Clement's riding office, not a government ministry, as a way to avoid accountability for how funds were spent. As well, despite Clement and the Auditor General claiming that public servants were not involved in the process of giving out money for projects, reports revealed that public servants were present at the mayors' meetings. It is reported that a number of the mayors who were on the committee had donated to Clement's election campaign.

Militarization and War Preparations in the Arctic

During the month of August, Operation Nanuk -- a large scale military exercise -- took place in the Canadian Arctic involving military forces from Canada, the U.S. and other NATO powers. It was reported that as part of the exercises, Canada was using unmanned drones, similar to those used in Afghanistan. Speaking to their use, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said, "It's precedent setting. There will be small [unmanned aerial vehicles] in the High Arctic, they are a harbinger of things to come." It is reported that the military is also looking at putting military bases in the Arctic.

Canada's Role in International Affairs

Over the summer, the Harper government pursued new markets for the monopolies in Asia and Latin America. The government presents these initiatives as measures to guard against reliance on trade with the U.S. This notion is suspect given that the Canadian government at the same time is negotiating the annexation of Canada into the United States in the form of establishing a North American Security Perimeter.

Latin America

From August 8-12, Harper travelled to Latin America making official visits to Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and Honduras. According to a government news release, the following arrangements were made during the trip:

In Brazil, the Prime Minister announced the following 11 initiatives:

- An Air Transport Agreement
- An Agreement on Social Security
- A Memorandum of Understanding on Olympic Games Cooperation
- A Memorandum of Understanding on International Development Cooperation Effectiveness
- A Canada-Brazil Strategic Partnership Dialogue
- Renewed Funding for the International Science and Technology Partnership Program
- The development of a Science and Technology Action Plan focused on innovation
- The first scholarships granted under the "Canada-Brazil Awards: Joint Research Projects"
- The Governor General's leading of the Canadian delegation for the next Conference of the Americas on International Education to be hosted by Brazil in April 2012
- The creation of a Canada-Brazil CEO Forum, and the appointment of Mr. Rick Waugh as Canadian co-chair of the Forum [Harper also named the Canadian Council of Chief Executives as the secretariat of the Forum -- TML Ed. Note.]
- The opening of three new Visa Application Centres

In Colombia, the Prime Minister announced the following 4 initiatives:

- The entry into force of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement on August 15, 2011
- Increased Canadian international development assistance to benefit children, at-risk youth and promote human rights
- Support for new and ongoing projects said to enhance peace, security and justice in Colombia and the region
- Colombia's accession to Canada's Military Training and Cooperation Program (2011-2014)

In Costa Rica, the Prime Minister announced the following 7 initiatives:

- The launch of negotiations to modernize the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement, with a commitment to conclude negotiations within one year
- An Air Transportation Agreement
- A Tax Information Exchange Agreement
- Canadian support for the Costa Rican Police Enhancement Program to help Costa Rican national police officers gain advanced training and mentoring through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Canadian contribution of equipment to the Costa Rican police academy
- Canadian support for capacity building and security training for the Costa Rican tourism industry
- The opening of a new Visa Application Centre in Costa Rica

In Honduras, the Prime Minister announced the following 3 initiatives:

- The conclusion of negotiations toward a Canada-Honduras free trade agreement
- Canadian support to increase food security in Honduras
- Canadian support to help address regional security challenges in Central America, including Honduras

Asia

Following a high-level trip to China and South East Asia by Foreign Minister John Baird, it was announced that Harper will visit China "within the year" on a trade mission along with the premiers. It was during Baird's trip to Asia, not in Canada, that the government revealed Canada's "anti-human smuggling task-force."

Aggression and War Preparations

Libya

Immediately after the start of the summer recess, Foreign Minister John Baird travelled to Benghazi, Libya and, shortly after, recognized the National Transitional Council (NTC), the so-called Libyan rebels, as the legitimate representatives of the Libyan people. Shortly following this, Canada expelled all remaining Libyan diplomats from the Libyan embassy in Canada as part of its attempts to force regime change. On September 1, Harper attended a meeting "on the future of Libya" in Paris, along with other NATO powers. There, he announced that Canada would be lifting the sanctions against Libya.

On September 13, the Harper government announced that it would be re-opening its embassy in Tripoli at a temporary location in order to "resume commercial services to Canadians." Canada is now the first of the NATO powers to re-open its embassy in Libya. Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird added: "Canada has also secured from the United Nations Security Council's sanctions committee an exemption to unfreeze $2.2 billion worth of Libyan assets for humanitarian needs. These funds will help the Libyan people in the short and medium term; this money will help the new Libya get back on its feet." No doubt the $2.2 billion for "humanitarian needs" is linked to the "resumption of commercial services to Canadians" (i.e., the desire of the monopolies based in Canada to be "first on the ground").

Afghanistan

On July 5, Canadian Forces officially handed over operations in the Kandahar battlefield to the U.S. Canada now has 950 military personnel as part of the NATO Training Mission under U.S. command. The government claims that this signals the end of Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, on July 11, Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay, signed a Canada-Kuwait Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to allow for "logistical support to Canadian operations in Afghanistan." This comes as part of Canada's pursuit of new bases abroad and also because Canada lost its landing rights in United Arab Emirates, at that time its most direct route to provision Canadian forces participating in the occupation of Afghanistan. A government news release states: "the movement of equipment and vehicles from Afghanistan requires access to both an airport and sea terminal for the transhipment of materiel back to Canada. The establishment of this support presence in Kuwait allows this to happen in a safe and controlled environment."

Syria

Canada stepped-up its interference in Syria's internal affairs. On August 13, Canada announced it was extending sanctions on the Syrian government. In addition, Canada co-sponsored the request to convene a special session of the UN Human Rights Council on Syria.

Provocative Moves Against the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea

As pointed out in TML, "on August 11, 2011, the Harper government imposed additional unjust sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a further backward step from the May 24, 2010 decision to add the DPRK to the Area Control List[...]. The Harper government's August 11 Special Economic Measures (DPRK) Regulations include a ban on all exports to the DPRK; a ban on all imports from the DPRK to Canada; a ban on new investments in the DPRK, and a ban on docking and landing in Canada of DPRK ships and aircraft amongst other things." On July 11 Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird announced that Canada was boycotting the UN Conference on Disarmament because the DPRK was the chair, claiming that the DPRK's "chairmanship undermines the integrity of both the disarmament framework and of the United Nations and Canada simply will not support that."

Security Perimeter Negotiations

Definition of Sovereignty --
Harper's Logic of National Betrayal

- Enver Villamizar -

In a recent interview with CBC in advance of the opening of Parliament, Prime Minister Stephen Harper discussed his notion of sovereignty. "I think what we try and do as Canadians is we try to use our independence, our sovereignty intelligently for our own benefit," Harper said. In terms of the relationship between the Canada-U.S. border and sovereignty, Harper stated: "[...] I think things around the border are either going to be joint or they're going to be one side, in this case the United States, imposing something on us."

Harper's definition of sovereignty also includes ordering all Canadian embassies to put up a portrait of the Queen.

According to Harper's notion of sovereignty, bringing our borders, security and armed forces under the control of the U.S. and establishing one North American regulatory regime is being carried out to gain some benefit for Canada. As a result, it is not a violation of Canadian sovereignty but its intelligent exercise.

Harper presents the issue not in terms of the right of a nation to decide its fate free from outside interference, pressure and blackmail but rather as a trade-off between the demands of the U.S. and annexation which benefits Canada. It is simply a matter of getting the best deal for the country under the circumstances because the U.S. is bigger, presumably its needs are more pressing and we have no choice but to submit. Within this, Canadians can trust him to get the best deal. He does not elaborate the benefit to Canada or, in particular, who will benefit. He knows that Canadians would roundly denounce him if it was made clear whose interests these deals serve. Instead of speaking clearly, he presents things in a manner which appears beneficial -- the negotiation of measures to "help Canadians cross the border easily," "help small businesses compete" or "secure the continent from internal security threats."

The main social forces pushing annexation are the biggest monopolies in North America, represented by the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and its spokesperson former Deputy Prime Minister John Manley. They have found in Stephen Harper their main champion to establish a United States of North American Monopolies, backed with U.S. military might and fuelled by the natural resources of Canada and Mexico. Following September 11, 2001 the monopolies used the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the subsequent so-called War on Terror to push their demands. What has been established in the 10 years since then in terms of integration of the security forces of all three countries is used as a fait accompli to justify complete annexation and national betrayal.

To disinform Canadians as to the significance of what is taking place, Harper suggests annexation is "reasonable." "Canadians long ago crossed the threshold where they said that co-operating with the U.S. or trading with the U.S., that these things somehow are sellouts of Canada. I think Canadians are way past that," Harper said. Thus he presents annexation as a mainstream Canadian value. No doubt, those who oppose the Security Perimeter in the coming period will be presented as "extremists" or "conspiracy theorists," "terrorists" or "radicals" who endanger the security of Canadians, etc.

Meanwhile, the measures that put U.S. security forces in command of Canada and hand over government information such as police records and other confidential information to the U.S. security apparatus, are used to persecute Canadians at the border. But these are not considered threats to Canadians or even important developments the government should deal with. This is presumably the trade-off required to "balance security and rights" so as to benefit Canadians.

Harper's definition of sovereignty is based on a logic of national betrayal. It reveals the urgency with which the working class and people must build the Workers' Opposition capable of opposing the establishment of a North American Security Perimeter and the sell-out of the country. MPs who claim to represent their constituents should also be called upon to oppose what is taking place in the name of exercising sovereignty.

U.S. Security Forces to Increase Operations
on Canadian Soil

Reports inform that the U.S. and Canadian governments are preparing to launch a "pilot project" next year that would authorize American law enforcement officers to enter Canada and, presumably, Canadian officers to enter the U.S., "in pursuit of suspected criminals or terrorists."

The plans to establish "cross-designated officers" were confirmed by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at the September 14 border conference. "The creation of 'NextGen' teams of cross-designated officers would allow us to more effectively identify, assess, and interdict persons and organizations involved in transnational crime," Holder said. "They would also allow us to conserve precious resources, to avoid duplicative efforts, and to leverage tools and expertise," he added.

In his remarks he noted that since December, senior officials from the U.S. Justice and Homeland Security departments and their counterparts in Canada have met regularly to discuss the plan. "Their conversations have been candid, pragmatic and productive and progress has been made in developing a pilot program that we hope to launch next year," Holder said.

The announcement coincides with reports which confirm that an increasing number of Canadians are opposed to what is called "integrated cross-border law enforcement." The pilot project is in line with the demands of the monopolies to place U.S. security and customs personnel inside Canadian factories in the name of "ensuring the movement of goods." It is a further step towards placing all aspects of life in Canada under the control of the U.S. imperialists. It Must Not Pass!

Consultations Reveal No Mandate for Annexation

On August 29, Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird released two reports summarizing the government's consultations on the Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness. The consultations were set up to get Canadians to accept that their only role is to make proposals for how annexation should take place. The Harper government selected various stakeholders for "one-on-one consultations," made up mainly of organizations representing various industries and different levels of government, while the general public was permitted to submit their views on-line. The consultations asked participants to make "innovative proposals" on how to bring into being a Security Perimeter arrangement. Submissions were categorized into the four "pillars" of the declaration made by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama. The pillars are:

• Addressing Threats Early;
• Trade Facilitation, Economic Growth and Jobs;
• Integrated Cross-Border Law Enforcement; and
• Critical Infrastructure and Cyber-Security.

According to the government, it "received input from more than 1,000 Canadians and almost 200 submissions from groups and organizations, including business groups, provinces and territories, municipalities, organized labour, civil society groups, academics and think tanks."

Despite government attempts to present the consultations as an affirmation of a mandate to sell out the country, the summary of the consultations reveals that the direction the government is heading in no way has the confidence of either Canadians or First Nations people.

Canadians used the opportunity to put forward their concerns that the establishment of a Security Perimeter represents a violation of Canadian sovereignty and would lead to violations of Canadian laws, especially relating to the privacy of Canadians and government information on Canadians. Various organizations such as the Council of Canadians and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association also raised concerns over the process of the consultations itself and the lack of information available for those who wished to make a submission.

In particular, there was opposition to the proposal for more Integrated Cross-Border Law Enforcement, one of the four pillars of the whole security perimeter arrangement. By this is meant the establishment of joint security forces which would place U.S. security forces on Canadian soil and, presumably, Canadian security forces on U.S. soil. On this issue the government was forced to report that "almost half" of individual submissions "opposed further collaboration on cross-border law enforcement operations." This is a striking blow to the entire essence of the push to establish one United States of North American Monopolies under the control of U.S. security forces, with these forces operating on Canadian soil. It reflects the real mistrust Canadians have for U.S. security forces and no doubt the Harper government's push in this direction.

First Nations' organizations affirmed the hereditary rights of the First Nations to decide their futures. According to the summary, the Assembly of First Nations and the Haudenosaunee Documentation Committee in particular called for consultations to take place directly with First Nations. They put forward their demand for the recognition of their treaty rights to carry out trans-border trade outside of the control of the Canadian and U.S. states. They also called on the two governments to recognize their identity cards for the purpose of cross-border travel, something which potentially undermines attempts by the U.S. and Canadian security agencies to establish one system of identification and information.

As a result of the initiative of Canadians and First Nations to intervene, the Harper government cannot claim that Canadians support this plan or that it has a "mandate" to sell out the country. Far from it. Even according to the government's own consultation, designed only to garner proposals to implement the Security Perimeter, Canadians do not agree.

Meanwhile, the summary reveals the open demands of the monopolies and the political organizations that represent them for the elimination of the border in order to guarantee their profits, and the complete submission of Canada to U.S. imperialism's security apparatus. Key examples are the Canadian Council of Chief Executives' demand that customs agents to be placed inside factories, along with calls for a unified North American "no fly list" and a single entry-exit system which would track travelers as they enter and leave North America.

Despite the clear divide between Canadians and representatives of the monopolies, in its Conclusion/Next Steps the government summary attempts to cover up Canadians' opposition. It states: "For over 140 years, our nations have enjoyed the benefits of a well-managed border and have shared a successful history of working together on border issues. Today, more than ever, Canadians understand that a safe, secure and streamlined border is of critical importance to Canada's social, economic and cultural prosperity."

To give the impression it respects the opinions of Canadians, the government states: "This consultation has provided the Government of Canada with well-developed and valuable contributions on our security and competitiveness. The consultation has also helped the Government of Canada understand Canadians' concerns regarding the Shared Vision. With this in mind, the Government of Canada wishes to thank the Canadians who have taken the time to learn about the Shared Vision and provide their thoughts and ideas for the future of the Canada-United States border."

This is followed by the shameless declaration that everything has already been decided. The consultation was just to get proposals which support the plan. "The Declaration committed Canada to the creation of a joint Action Plan that will guide the development of measures that facilitate trade across the Canada-U.S. border and enhance our collective security. As the Government of Canada moves forward on the development of the Action Plan, it will seek to incorporate the many innovative and well-informed ideas that were shared through this consultation."

Regardless of what the Harper government says, it cannot claim to have a mandate for annexation. As Parliament opens, TML calls on Canadians to continue bringing to light the various aspects of the Security Perimeter and their significance and oppose any attempt to criminalize opponents with labels that they are "extremists," "terrorists," "persona non grata," etc.

The Prime Minister's declaration of the Security Perimeter is not the only mandate he requires.

Border Persecution of Canadians

While the Harper government holds consultations on how it will share information with the U.S. security apparatus, reports indicate that Canadians' police records have already been handed over to American security forces and are being used to persecute them at the border.

A CBC report on September 9 quoted RCMP Inspector Denis St. Pierre, who states that all information held in the database of the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) is now available to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. According to St. Pierre, CPIC not only contains a person's criminal record, but also outstanding warrants, missing persons reports and information about stolen property, along with information regarding persons of interest in ongoing cases. It can also contain an individual's history of mental illness, including suicide attempts.

The report indicates that "more than a dozen Canadians have told the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office in Toronto within the past year that they were blocked from entering the United States after their records of mental illness were shared with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security." The CBC report quotes Stanley Stylianos, program manager for the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office, saying Canadians should be outraged that people's mental health information is shared across the border. "Once that information gets into the American system, you can't control it," he says.

According to the report, Lois Kamenitz, 65, of Toronto contacted the Advocate's Office after U.S. customs officials at Pearson International Airport prevented her from boarding a flight to Los Angeles. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer is reported to have told Kamenitz that he had information that police had attended her home in 2006. The report goes on to state: "A document completed by a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officer says that at a secondary inspection at Pearson airport in Toronto, it was ascertained that Lois Kamenitz had 'attempted suicide in 2006,' and a medical clearance would be required for a further attempt to enter the United States."

Kamenitz was required to submit her medical records to the U.S. and get clearance from a Homeland Security-approved doctor in Toronto, who charged her $250 for the service, in order to get on a flight four days later. Included in the Homeland Security forms Kamenitz was required to fill out were questions about whether she had a history of substance abuse and whether she had diseases, such as AIDS or tuberculosis.

"These are private and personal medical records that I'm now handing over to a foreign government," she said.

Canadian Wheat Board

Farmers Vote to Keep Canadian Wheat Board

- Canadian Wheat Board, September 12, 2011 -

A rally in support of the CWB's single desk public monopoly for grain marketing was held at a public meeting in Regina, August 8, 2011. It was one of six meetings held in August across the prairies to ensure a positive result in the plebiscite as part of contending with the Harper government's plans to unilaterally remove the single desk. (CWBA)

Tens of thousands of Western Canadian farmers have sent a clear message to Ottawa, demanding the CWB single-desk marketing system be retained.

Results of the CWB's plebiscite, released today, show a strong majority of farmers want to maintain their ability to market wheat and barley through a single-desk system. Sixty-two per cent of respondents voted in favour of retaining the single desk for wheat and 51 per cent voted to retain it for barley. A total of 38,261 farmers submitted mail-in ballots in the plebiscite, a participation rate of 56 per cent - on par with the last three federal elections and higher than many municipal and provincial elections.

"Farmers have spoken. Their message is loud and clear, and the government must listen," said Allen Oberg, chair of the CWB's farmer-controlled board of directors. "Western Canadian producers have voted to keep their single-desk marketing system for wheat and barley. They cannot be ignored.

"We will not sit back and watch this government steamroll over farmers. We are going to stand our ground and fight for farmers."

The federal government plans to remove the CWB single desk by August 1, 2012. Minister Gerry Ritz has announced that enabling legislation will be introduced this fall, also removing the current legal requirement that such a change first be approved by Prairie farmers through an official plebiscite. The CWB's plebiscite was conducted to give producers a voice through a fair and democratic process.

Oberg said the plebiscite results show that the federal government is out of touch with farmers.

"For months, Minister Ritz has been claiming that the recent federal election was a mandate for the government to dismantle the CWB. Now we know otherwise. There is no mandate from farmers to strip away their marketing power."

Oberg said the CWB's board of directors is calling on the Government of Canada to respect the decision of farmers. He said the high participation rate leaves no doubt about what farmers want.

"The number of producers who voted shows that they are passionate about the CWB and demand a say in its future. As farmers, the CWB is our marketing organization. We pay for it, we run it, we have the right to decide its future. The government must now acknowledge this mandate from farmers and respect this decision."

MNP, a chartered accountancy and business advisory firm, coordinated the plebiscite and tabulated the results. More information can be found on the official plebiscite Web site at www.cwbvote.ca.

Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. One of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.

Results of 2011 CWB Producer Plebiscite

The results of the 2011 Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) Producer Plebiscite were announced today by Plebiscite Coordinator Ian Craven of MNP LLP.

The outcome of the Plebiscite was as follows:

For wheat:

* 22,764 producers (62 per cent of respondents who grew wheat) said they wish to maintain the ability to market all wheat, with the continuing exception of feed wheat sold domestically, through the CWB single-desk system.

* 14,059 producers (38 per cent of respondents who grew wheat) said they wish to remove the single-desk marketing system from the CWB and sell all wheat through an open-market system.

For barley:

* 6,283 producers (51 per cent of respondents who grew barley) said they wish to maintain the ability to market all barley, both malting/food, with the continuing exception of feed barley sold domestically, through the CWB single-desk system.

* 6,014 producers (49 per cent of respondents who grew barley) said they wish to remove the single-desk marketing system from the CWB and sell all barley through an open-market system.

The vote was conducted across the CWB designated area in Western Canada, using a mail-in voting system. The participation rate for returned ballots was 56 per cent (55 per cent of those who grew wheat, 47 per cent of those who grew barley, and 60 per cent of those who grew both). The tabulation process identified 183 rejected envelopes that were determined to be invalid, and 301 spoiled ballots. Ballot tabulation was conducted in the presence of scrutineers representing major farm groups.

Details of the results can be found at the plebiscite website: cwbvote.ca.

(Canadian Wheat Board, September 12, 2011)

Arrogance of Harper Government
Knows No Bounds

In related news, the organization Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) learned on September 8 that the federal court has denied a challenge by the federal government to have its case tossed out without being heard. Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board filed its case in June, alleging Ottawa was ignoring its own legislation that requires the government to consult farmers before making any major changes to the CWB. It now awaits a case conference October 3 when a court date could be set.

Despite these developments, the federal government continues on its arrogant path saying that when Canadians voted in a majority Conservative government they voted in favour of eliminating the Wheat Board's monopoly. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz also argues a majority of farmers shouldn't be able to dictate to a minority where they can sell their grain.. Ritz has also released official statements discounting the results of the CWB plebiscite prior to the release of the results.

Ritz announced plans to introduce legislation this fall to eliminate the monopoly by August 2012. On September 8 he said neither the plebiscite results nor the court case will change what the government does on this file.

"Parliament created the monopoly and it will take Parliament to remove and move beyond it," Ritz said, during a press conference in Saskatoon.

He said the CWB vote was "irrelevant, expensive and was not required."

The Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board argue that using the federal election in lieu of the plebiscite is ridiculous because the ballot question wasn't only about the CWB. Several contend Ritz and other Tory MPs said they would listen to farmers prior to the election but now do not want to.

Former CWB employee and member of the Friends group Bob Roehle said Ritz is in a tricky spot because it will look like he is ignoring the wishes of farmers if he doesn't listen to the results.

"If 60 per cent of farmers say they want a wheat board that's a political issue Mr. Ritz is going to have to deal with."

The Conservatives have tried to eliminate the monopoly since coming to power in 2006 but didn't have the support in a minority Parliament. One attempt to make the change by an order of cabinet was overruled by a federal court, which said the change can only be made by a full act of Parliament.

Harper now intends to run roughshod over the farmers and use his majority in Parliament to pass his nation-wrecking legislation.

Notes on Effects of Privatizing
the Australian Wheat Board

- Dougal MacDonald -

Australian Trade Minister Craig Emerson was with Canadian Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz in Saskatoon on September 9 when Ritz argued for a notion of freedom which favours the biggest monopolies in the world. Emerson backed up Ritz's call to open up the grain marketing monopoly. The Australian Wheat Board was privatized just over a decade ago. Emerson said that nobody is now seriously calling for it to go back to having a monopoly.

"The transition has been remarkably smooth," he lied, saying that since marketing was opened up, Australian wheat exports now go to 41 countries, up from 17 before and the number of traders of Australian wheat went from one to 26.

"What that says is there is money to be made," Emerson said.

Australia's Wheat Board was privatized in 1999 and lost the single desk in 2008. Mark Hoskinson, grains committee chair of the New South Wales Farmers Association, estimated in 2010 that "Growers are losing an estimated $2 billion dollars due to the end of the national pool and its progressive crop-hedging ability."[1]

Cathy Holtslander, Director Research and Policy for the National Farmers Union, points out: "When the AWB had its single desk power, Australian wheat could command premiums of over $99/tonne over American wheat, but by December 2008 it had dropped to a discount of $27/tonne below U.S. wheat."[2]

In his 2011 paper, "Revenue volatility faced by Australian wheat farmers," Professor Ross Kingwell of the University of Western Australia points out that since 2000, increasing problems for Australian wheat farmers include:

- Volatility in wheat revenue to farmers has more than doubled
- Downside risk to farmers has increased due to elimination of the government's Guaranteed Minimum Price Scheme
- Farm debt has increased on average by 107 per cent
- Government assistance to growers has decreased
- Farm business profit has become more rare

Kingwell concludes: "The compounding effects of the downside of the revenue risk faced by wheat growers over the last 15 years or so make the next handful of seasons crucial in affecting the business survival of a sizeable proportion of Australian wheat growers. More importantly, if the next decade displays the same adversity as the last, then Australia's wheat industry faces very serious structural problems."[3]

A 2011 report for the Australian Farm Institute highlights that twelve of 23 licensed wheat exporters are Australian-owned, while 60 per cent of the grain storage companies are owned by foreign interests. Australia's biggest wheat exporter is Minneapolis-based Cargill Inc., which operates as Cargill and AWB. The report's author, Queensland Sugar Ltd. Chairman Alan Winney stated, "We now face a realistic prospect that Australian agribusiness may in the near future be run from boardrooms in Singapore, New York, and Shanghai. In two years it is likely that the majority of Australian wheat will be exported by international companies."[4]

Notes

1. Hoskinson, Mark. Single desk best for growers. Weekly Times online newspaper, August 12, 2010. Melbourne, Victoria. Found at http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2010/08/12/220201_opinion-news.html
2. Holtslander, Cathy. "When the Wheat Board went down Down Under". Found at http://www.nfu.ca/cwb/down_under.pdf
3. Kingwell, Ross. Revenue volatility faced by Australian wheat farmers. Paper presented at the 55th Annual Conference of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, Melbourne, February 9-11, 2011, p. 17.
4. Winney Alan, Globalisation of Australian agriculture: Have we sold the farm? Farm Policy Journal, Vol 8, Number 2, Winter 2011.

Energy

No to the Keystone Pipeline!
Yes to Nation-Building!

- Peggy Morton -

A two-week mass protest against the Keystone pipeline took place outside the White House August 20-September 3. The action was held to demand President Barack Obama reject the pipeline project on the grounds that it will cause major damage to the natural environment. Over the course of the two-week sit-in 1,252 people were arrested, including top climate scientists, landowners from Texas and Nebraska, former Obama for America staffers, First Nations leaders from Canada, notable individuals including former White House official Gus Speth, NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen and others. Actions to put pressure on the president to reject the project continue.

Canada's Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver recently went to Washington to lobby for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. He held meetings with U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, congressional representatives, senior officials and heads of U.S. monopolies. At the same time, as the project moved closer to approval with the release of a State Department environmental assessment report that gave the pipeline a passing grade, daily demonstrations took place outside the White House against the building of the pipeline.

The Keystone XL is an expansion to the existing pipeline, which would ship up to 1.29 million barrels of bitumen mixed with diluent every day to the U.S. Gulf Coast, where old refineries have been retrofitted at public expense to upgrade and refine the bitumen. All the jobs in upgrading, refining and the associated petrochemical industry would go down the pipeline with the bitumen. The pipeline is a venture of TransCanada and ConocoPhillips, the second largest refiner and third largest integrated energy monopoly in the U.S.

Oliver stated that the pipeline would bring more than $20 billion in new construction related spending to the U.S. economy and create 20,000 well-paid construction and manufacturing jobs in the U.S. He dismissed all concerns about any harmful consequences to the environment, citing the State Department assessment.

This ridiculous, anti-national spectacle of the Harper government sending its energy minister to Washington to tell the U.S. that the Keystone pipeline would benefit the U.S. boggles the mind. It is even more outrageous than the Harper government claims that it is standing up for Canada when it goes to tell Obama that the U.S. needs Canada's oil. How it is in Canada's interest to mine and ship raw bitumen, with all the jobs in upgrading, refining and the petrochemical industry flowing south as well is left to the imagination. Whether the frenzied pace of development in the tar sands is in Canada's national interest is not discussed either.

Development of the tar sands at breakneck speed has been a key component of the continental energy policy under the dictate of the private monopolies. It has been based on the narrow interests of the monopolies which benefit from the private control of Canada's renewable and non-renewable energy resources. It has also been an integral part of what the U.S. calls energy security. Ensuring access to energy resources through military intervention or the threat of military intervention remains a mainstay of U.S. "energy security" as can be seen in the assault on Libya. Reducing or eliminating U.S. dependence on oil from the Middle East and Venezuela, which currently provide oil and own refineries in the Gulf, is also promoted as enhancing "energy security."

An oil sands experts group was established under the Security and Prosperity Partnership. At its meeting in Houston in 2006 and a secret meeting in Banff in 2007 attended by U.S. and Canadian top military brass, CEOs of the oil and gas monopolies and top government officials, a production target of 5 million barrels a day from the tar sands was confirmed.

When Barack Obama was elected, he continued to promote the need for the U.S. to reduce its dependence on "foreign oil." This is a requirement considered essential to the U.S.'s attempt to maintain its domination and dictate over the whole world. Obama recently called for a reduction of 25 per cent oil imports to the U.S. "And when it comes to the oil we import from other nations," he said, "we can partner with neighbours like Canada, Mexico and Brazil, which recently discovered significant new oil reserves, and with whom we can share American technology and know-how."

How the Keystone pipeline fits into these arrangements is clearly dependent on a host of competing monopoly interests, especially given the protracted economic crisis which has reduced demand for oil in the U.S. These competing interests include the nuclear power industry which Obama has provided with a massive public subsidy, as well as competing oil interests, both existing and new, including substantial new fields controlled by Exxon-Mobil in Mexico and expanded off-shore drilling in the Gulf. At the same time, the considerations of Empire dictate that the U.S. maintain its control over the Canadian tar sands and the destination of the oil extracted from them.

In the face of the utter failure of this continental energy policy to meet the needs of Canadians and opposition to the environmentally destructive extraction process, as well as the uncertainty created by competing energy cartels, Harper dispatched his minister to Washington.

How can this be considered "standing up for Canadians"? This pipeline does not even meet the minimum requirement for Canadians that when our resources are exploited, it should benefit the Canadian people, including the creation of secure and stable Canadian livelihoods. Massive tar sands mines create a boom when they are under construction, but few permanent jobs. Both the workers in the tar sands and the indigenous peoples in communities upstream are particularly affected by the disregard for the social and natural environment shown by the monopolies. Under intense public pressure, the oil monopolies have shown they are capable of less destructive practices. But instead of upholding their social responsibility, governments have taken up the role of salesmen and backers of the PR campaigns to provide a pretty face to tar sands development while utterly failing to put in place the necessary requirements to safeguard the social and natural environments, and to uphold the rights of workers and the First Nations peoples.

Canada has many talented and knowledgeable scientists and environmentalists who are quite capable of solving the problems of developing energy resources in a socially responsible way. But the human factor/social consciousness is blocked by the old arrangements.

Meanwhile the competing interests work to manipulate the concerns of the people. Millions of dollars are poured into corporate-funded "environmental" associations by foundations established by big oil and other monopoly interests for their own hidden objectives. For example, many people have concerns about the environmental impacts of the Keystone and other pipelines as there are an increasing number of spills from existing pipelines. Why is there no discussion of the fact that an alternative to the pipeline is increased off-shore drilling in the Gulf, the dangers of which are known to all. Why is there no discussion of the fact that in virtually every case of a disaster like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon blowout which spewed oil into the Gulf for 87 days, workers knew a problem existed but lacked the authority to act, while the representatives of the owners of capital, who did have authority, were reckless and their continued control a danger to the workers, mother earth and the society.

The alternative to the Keystone pipeline is for Canada to develop and strengthen its own nation-building project and bring its energy resources under public control. Wholesale trade in oil and gas and their products should be placed under public control along with the natural resources themselves, which are nominally public but handed over to the monopolies which exercise control.

Canada should become self-sufficient in oil, end its reliance on finished petroleum products from the U.S. and ensure upgrading, refining and manufacturing of petrochemical products is developed in the country.

There are many other decisions which Canada could take which would contribute to nation-building. Canada could establish its own internal prices, eliminating the harmful consequences of soaring oil and gas prices and their constant fluctuations for which the working people pay the price. For both the U.S. and Canada to take such measures would benefit the working people of both countries. New arrangements to guarantee public control in opposition to monopoly right are up to the people to bring into being in an organized and conscious manner.

September 17, 2011 Bulletin • Return to Index • Write to: editor@cpcml.ca