Stephen Harper is a man of inconsistencies. But, if there is one thing he's been consistent about, it's putting his signature to free trade deals. Each of those deals contains an ISDS (Investor-State Dispute Settlement) clause. Murray Dobbin writes:
This is not hyperbole -- that is the actual, stated objective of ISDS: if a new law affects the expected future profits of a foreign-owned company, it can sue the federal government for damages. And the decision is made by a panel of trade lawyers whose bias is, naturally, in favour of facilitating corporate interests -- because that is who they normally work for. They aren't environmental lawyers or labour lawyers or human rights lawyers. They're trade lawyers. Foxes judging the right of other foxes to kill chickens.
ISDS arrangements trump democracy. And a lot of that has been going on:
The rate of challenges is increasing and the rulings are actually getting worse. In 2007 the Nova Scotia and federal governments rejected a proposal to create a huge quarry in an environmentally sensitive area important to local communities. The company won before a NAFTA tribunal and is seeking damages of over $300 million. But the reasoning was even more outrageous than usual. The company successfully argued that an environmental review panel relied on "community core values," which company lawyers argued was unacceptable. Adding insult to injury, the panel ruled on the basis that there was a "possibility" the review panel's decision might have been overturned in federal court. Effectively, the company just did an end-run around Canadian environmental laws and the Canadian judicial system by going straight to NAFTA.
Corporations know they have a friend in Mr. Harper. Citizens by now should know that the prime minister doesn't work for them. At every turn and everywhere Stephen Harper seeks to sabotage rule of the people, by the people, for the people.
22 comments:
Consider the shocking admission today from an internal Finance Dept memo that about half of the energy sector is actually foreign owned: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/oil-price-drop-impact-on-canada-lessened-thanks-to-foreign-ownership-1.3091814
When you consider then that the IMF had said that Canadian taxpayers had been subsidizing the fossil fuel industry to the tune of $34B annually (which also happened to be approximately the entire annual amount of the Federal health transfer to the provinces), the above means that we are contributing about $17B subsidies annually to foreign owners/corporations.
How profound is that ... that we are contributing about half of our annual federal health transfer to the provinces to foreigners in the energy industry?
I think there was a time long ago when Harper and the people who had enabled this apparent "robbery" of the public purse would have been made to walk the plank.
Yet today, if we believe the polls,some 28% of voters still say they will vote for more this government.
Jim Prenctice was actually correct .... Canadians should look in the mirror as to who is responsible for this sorry state of affairs .... or at least the Cons base should look in the mirror because they are enabling this to happen.
"Citizens by now should know that the prime minister doesn't work for them." Let's hope so, Owen. Let's hope so.
Unfortunately Harper is not the only one shilling for these multinational corporations in secret "negations" that give away all local control over who and what we allow in our neighborhoods, Owen
Quite true, Rural. Unfortunately, the circles in which he travels exclude most of us -- on purpose.
It should be a painfully obvious conclusion, Lorne. But the Big Blue Propaganda Machine works hard to obscure the painfully obvious.
That really is shocking news, Anon. It's not the kind of thing that Robber Barons want us to know. But that's precisely the problem. A significant number of us have chosen not to know.
"Citizens by now should know that the prime minister doesn't work for them." that was painfully obvious as soon as Harper got his wedding in hell with diablo 'a majority' Harper-con government. The man cannot control himself he must be hell to live with. That is unless you sleep in his garage or hide in the closet when he comes home. Well his bull shit is coming home to roost and will not be in his garage or closet. It will be open for public viewing and man does it ever stink.
Mogs
When TILMA between BC and Alberta was being rammed through, we were told it would result in 78,000 new jobs in BC.
Where are those new jobs, I ask?
Um ya Owen things are not looking good for Harper:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AhhC0sngPo
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/national/canadian-bar-association-urges-canadians-march-protest-bill-c-51
The walls are closing in who ever thought we could all get along like brothers and sisters Harper's own undoing. He is making us unite against a common cause Harper and his wacko laws. One step over the line sweet Jesus one step over the line sitting down town in the railway station hoping the train is on time.
Let's derail this idiot Harper and his flock of 60 zealots.
Mogs
Lawrence Welk show 1971 substitute Brewer and Shipleys original lyrics "one toke over the line" with 'one step over the line' Mr. Harper with bill C-51 I believe his train is about to be derailed. This was his one step over the line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AhhC0sngPo
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/national/canadian-bar-association-urges-canadians-march-protest-bill-c-51
Not often in Canada you get this kind of blow-back. Harper's days are finally coming to an end! Sweet relief for us all except the Christian Alliance crowd and the far right wingers who thought they had us in their back pockets eh.
Mogs
Let's hope your premonition is spot on, Mogs.
That's been the neo-liberal song from the beginning, Hugh. Coddle the rich because they create the jobs. It's a lie. When you coddle the rich, they get a monopoly on the wealth.
I thought of an interesting scenario yesterday while viewing the BBC here in Hong Kong. With all the concern over the Chinese creation of new claimed territories in the Spratly Islands and their claims of inevitable war. Where does that put Canada if we should join a global boycott of China? Will we be sued for our position?
Drug company Eli Lilly wants to sue Canada for $500 million under ISDS provisions in NAFTA.
$500 million, which could be spent on junk like healthcare and educating Canadian people.
A truly egregious example of what Dobbin is talking about, Hugh.
An interesting question, zoombats. Canada's foreign policy under Harper is really an extension of his domestic policy. Harper cares not one wit for the international consequences of his decisions.
Darn I twice posted the same links when I wanted to post this Lawrence Welk clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8tdmaEhMHE
One step over the line hoping that the Harper train is derailed we've been changing as you can plainly see we are demonstrating en masse. Bout time!!!
Just substitute Brewer and Shipley's "Toke" for 'Step' and you have about summed up the Harper cons future. The train that will derail them I hope it is on time. So we can go back home to the Canada we grew up in.
Catch my humor you have to have that [Humor] I've learned in my mere 60 years if not life is awful. I'd rather enjoy life with my wife. Waiting for the Orange crush because Harper is one step over the line. Now he is a 'Lame Duck' Prime Minister. We have not had that many street demonstrations ever in Canada. Also Scientist's whose work was destroyed the legal community that sees the Harper-cons as THE threat to liberty and freedom under the laws of the land. Also Academics and now people are taking to the streets.
Owen Harper has a snowflakes chance in hell of winning the next election. His days are numbered and he is facing time behind bars no not the ones he likes to drink beer at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/09/16/stephen-harper-alcohol-beer-wine-booze-drinking-photos_n_3935054.html
The man is a mass murderer an alcoholic liar Obama and no other world leader can stand him. Mr paunch Harper has temper-tantrums he never grew up and matured. But he is waiting as Norman Greenbaum wrote he is waiting to go to "Spirit in the Sky" right ya I got you Steve:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cXrEPNvRO8
"I've never been a sinner I never sin" Steve or Norman? Well we know Norman has never bombed innocents to the death Steve has period.
Cheers Owen,
Mogs Moglio
I wish he had a snowball's chance, Mogs. What worries me is the thought that he has much more than a snowball's chance.
Ah look at your beautiful picture at the top of this page your house I presume? Does not matter Harper will find himself either snowbound and shivering to the death or burning in the flames of hell. He won't get to see "The Spirits in the sky".
Better yet you must remember this one eh:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174348
Harper's fate? He does like to go to the Arctic. Perhaps the same fate will befall him as Sam McGee.
Mogs
It's not our house, Mogs. But it is a terrific picture.
Put your worries aside today is a new day and with each progressive new day Harper is alienating more and more Canadians. He is shooting himself in the foot. He does not have a snowman's chance in hell. He will maybe last a little longer but he will never form a majority government ever again. He will destroy the con party of Canada he is that stubborn he will go out in flames.
Well Owen we are on our way to summer solstice the longest day of the year enjoy the sunshine eh.
Cheers to you and yours,
Mogs
Enjoy summer in B.C, Mogs.
Post a Comment