Cdn Univ Prof's open letter urges NDP & left-leaning Libs form coalition

An Open Letter to the NDP and Liberal MPs
Canada and the American Empire

By JOHN RYAN

As a long time supporter of progressive political policies in Canada I was perplexed and dismayed by the results of our recent federal election. My consternation led me to write the article that is attached to this letter. The essence of my analysis is summed up in the opening comments:

The 2006 federal election has set the stage for a possible dismantling of Canada's distinctive social and economic fabric. The newly evolved Conservative Party, in many respects a chilling echo of the USA's Republican Party, is poised for a two-stage attack to reshape Canada in line with its Canadian version of America's neoconservative ideology.

The purpose of this letter is to urge the NDP and the Liberals to begin the process of forming a coalition and, if this turns out favourably, to consider the prospect, under the right conditions, of eventually merging the two parties into a centre-left Liberal Democratic Party.

For years the minority of Canadians on the political right languished in the wilderness because of a split in their political movement. However, after a series of misadventures, they finally coalesced into a single party--albeit with some alienation and disaffection in their ranks. Basically, their strategy worked--and although they received only 36 percent of the vote, they now form the government.

SNIP

At present Canada has a dysfunctional political system in which the views of the majority of Canadians cannot be represented by a single political party. Although almost two-thirds of Canada's voters opposed the policies and platform of the Conservative party, it is the Conservatives who have formed the government. The majority vote was split amongst three parties, thereby thwarting the predominant will of the people and making a mockery of democracy. And this may very well continue into the future, especially if the Conservatives get a stronger foothold in Quebec. Furthermore, if the NDP should get progressively stronger, it will guarantee a split vote, and we may have an unending series of Conservative governments--until there's nothing left of Canada except a northern tier of quasi-American states.

Open letter continues at:
http://www.counterpunch.org/ryan03012006.html

........An objective accounting shows that the promised benefits of the FTA and NAFTA were never realized.

But it's in the energy sector that the FTA/NAFTA chickens have really come home to roost. As I pointed out in my article:

With the Free Trade Agreement and later NAFTA we're locked into exporting 70 percent of our oil and 56 percent of our natural gas, and with the proportionality provision, the amount of our exports can only go higher--in perpetuity. Our reserves are quickly depleting and because of NAFTA we have absolutely no control of our own resources. This is insanity. To defend Canada's interests, our federal government should renegotiate NAFTA to eliminate the proportionality clause (Mexico never agreed to this), and if the US should refuse, we should give the required six months notice and abrogate NAFTA, since the US ignores its rulings anyway. This would once again give us control of our energy resources and our economy as well.

SNIP

A further crucial issue that must be part of a coalition platform is the matter of "deep integration" with the USA. Although not known to most Canadians, the previous Martin government, without consent from Parliament, and probably with only the briefest of obfuscating mention to the Liberal caucus, has already signed a statement of intent in a trilateral agreement with the USA and Mexico to supercede NAFTA with what has been called by its proponents a "deep integration" policy with the USA. Without any fanfare, the first stage of the "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America" was signed by President Bush, President Fox, and Prime Minister Martin on March 23, 2005 in Waco, Texas. The second stage, with work-plans on its further implementation, was signed in Ottawa on June 27, 2005 on behalf of Canada by Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan and Industry Minister David Emerson. Its full implementation would apparently take effect after signing further agreements in 2006 and 2007, so this is now in the hands of the Harper government. It appears that if these further agreements are not signed, this calculated endeavour to change the very nature of Canada, without any public disclosure or debate, would die as unfinished business. To make sure that this happens, the issue of "deep integration" must be in the platform of a Liberal-NDP coalition.

SNIP

When it comes to defence and military matters, there is no mention of Canada's traditional role of peacekeeping. Instead we would be expected to make massive new investments in the military to ensure the "interoperability of Canadian and United States armed forces on land, at sea and in the air." Clearly this means that defence and foreign policy would be blended to meet America's expectations, so that we would be ready and willing to be a part of any future "coalition of the willing." This has ominous implications for Canada considering that the US has now adopted a "first strike" position (even with nuclear weapons) and reserves the right to attack any country it sees as being hostile, regardless of UN Security Council decisions.