Canada's Left Angry With PM's 'Hidden' U.S. Agenda

[tuvor]

Let's keep an eye on this Martin fella, okay, gang?

OTTAWA (Reuters) - An opposition party that is helping to keep Canada's minority Liberal government in power angrily accused Prime Minister Paul Martin on Tuesday of planning to push an agenda of closer integration with the United States.

Martin is due to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush and Mexican President Vincente Fox in Texas on Wednesday for talks that will include discussions on how to improve the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Canadian officials say they want to eliminate "nuisance tariffs" among the three partners and harmonize some continental business regulations.

But the idea of any deeper integration with the United States is particularly unpopular with Canada's left-leaning New Democrats, who have been backing Martin since last June's election stripped the Liberals of their majority.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=840&e=1&u=/nm/canada_bush_summit_canada_col

[arikara]

1. The luckiest thing that ever happened

was that Martin didn't get a majority government. He would have sold us down the river so fast if he had. "Trade" is number one priority with him.

If there hadn't been so much outcry against chimpy's moranic missile program he would have signed us up because the big boys in the US were threatening not to trade with Canada if he didn't. We just really have to keep the heat on him, it seems to work and I think in spite of his whoredom with the corporations he deep down really just wants to be loved.

[tuvor]

2. Yeah, I like where things are at right now, too.

Could be better, but could be a LOT worse.

BTW are you sure Martin would've signed up for missile defense? The earliest I recall him mentioning it was last December where he said in an interview with the CTV that it wasn't going to happen.

I have a URL if you want it, but I'm already off-topic.

[arikara]

8. Yeah, I'm reasonably sure he would have signed it

and I do remember him saying that he wouldn't. Read Mel Hurtig's book "Rushing to Armageddon", he explains it better than I could ever hope to. Your library should have it.

http://www.vivelecanada.ca/index.php?topic=melhurtig

[tuvor]

9. Thanks for the link!

I recall I went to school with his daughter a million years ago. She was a very nice girl.

And! Hurtig Publishers put out one of my very favorite books of 1977!

[Canuckistanian]

3. Sheila Copps tried to warn us about him, didn't she?

She said she was at plenty of meetings where Martini and his confidantes would privately agree with Iraq, missile defence, and common immigration policies.
And it disgusted her.

[tuvor]

4. The thing about missile defense, thought, is that it's DOA.

If it worked, that would be one thing actually worth debating, but it's a no-brainer and Canadians know it. (At least I think we mostly do.)

I'm shocked at the naivete of anyone, most of all a PM, who'd think we'd be so easily won over to pay into such an impotent program.

Or am I deluded?

[Ken Burch]

10. So why didn't Copps follow her complaints to the logical conclusion

and cross over to the NDP bench?
...After her showing in the last Liberal leadership race, she could hardly have any reason for staying loyal to the Grits.

[thecrow]

5. What do Mexico and Canada have in common?

Look beyond the obvious.
Yes, right... they both share BORDERS with the US.
And why are they going to Tex-ass instead of Washington?
Because DimSon can CONTROL what happens there.

Believe me, they are getting their marching orders because the US will need to shut down the borders if:
1. There is an epidemic (less world population would mean what for the government/governments?)
2. There is a draft (in the event of us invading Iran, Syria, or any other country)
3. In the event of <---fillintheblank---->

Think about it, okay?

[Spazito]

6. I agree, Martin bears close watching...

and having a minority government at this time suits me very well as long as it is not the faux Conservatives in the power position. Martin seems to be go back and forth between his very Liberal roots ala his father and his corporatism re his former (strictly speaking) corporate background as a shipping magnate.

I will be VERY interested in the attempt to amalgamate our borders and am totally against any attempt to 'homogenize' our standards on drugs, etc, with the US. I have EVERY confidence in Jack Layton and the NDP and Bloc to go over every detail of anything Martin might bring back from the 'ranch' as proposals.

[CHIMO]

7. 'Three Amigos' agree to strengthen ties

WACO, Texas — Prime Minister Paul Martin signed a deal today that provides for sweeping co-ordination with the United States and Mexico on security, trade and public health issues.

Asked whether the deal is paving the way for a continental integration, Martin said: “What we are talking about here is not a big bang, we’re talking but big progress.”

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1111576933053&call_pageid=968332188492

[Ken Burch]

11. And then they started singing "My Little Buttercup"?