Integrate This! SPP Watch Update

SPP Watch

SPP WATCH makes the links between daily news items, new government initiatives and the ongoing Security and Prosperity Partnership talks between Canada, Mexico and the United States. As well as regular SPP updates, we will continue to post new reports, interviews and multimedia presentations critical of what is sometimes called the “deep integration” of North America. The site is updated regularly so visit often.

Here’s what went up on Integrate This! in the past week:

Finance Department opposes common currency
November 23, 2007
Posted by Brent Patterson
Why is Finance Minister Jim Flaherty requesting advice on a common currency? (more…)

Harper government opposes U.S. Secure Flight program
November 23, 2007
Posted by Brent Patterson
The Globe and Mail is reporting today that: “Ottawa has belatedly joined the airline industry in opposing U.S. plans to obtain passenger lists from Canadian flights headed for holiday sun destinations (through their Secure Flight program). Canada is concerned about privacy issues related to turning over personal information, federal Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon said yesterday after Ottawa filed its objections to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration.” (more…)

Help save the SPP, Prentice tells CCCE meeting
November 23, 2007
Posted by Stuart Trew
A few weeks after praising the Security and Prosperity Partnership at a meeting of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, Industry Minister Jim Prentice is now begging the architects of the continental agreement — Tom d’Aquino and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives — to help him keep the White House interested. (more…)

How to find the SPP in the House of Commons
November 22, 2007
Posted by Brent Patterson
The ACTivist magazine has set up a search and browse tool for Hansard, the traditional name for the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates. The keyword search function has been set for ‘Security and Prosperity Partnership’ and so it notes anytime the SPP has been mentioned in the House of Commons or in parliamentary committees. (more…)

New gas pipeline to feed the tar sands
November 22, 2007
Posted by Brent Patterson
The Globe and Mail reported today that, “TransCanada said yesterday that it has filed a regulatory application to build (a $1-billion) 300-kilometre… (North Central Corridor) pipeline to traverse northern Alberta, moving natural gas to ‘feed’ increasing oil sand production around Fort McMurray. It is expected to be in service by 2010…” (more…)

Harper to succumb to U.S. bullying on copyright law
November 22, 2007
Posted by Stuart Trew
According to an entry on the Slyck.com news website, and a recent article from CanWest columnist Deirdre McMurdy, Canada is about to announce a revised Copyright Act to bring its intellectual property regime in line with stricter (and some say unreasonable) U.S. standards. (more…)

Harper takes Canada’s international reputation for a nosedive
November 21, 2007
Posted by Stuart Trew
It has been an embarrassing week for Canada. But even more embarrassing for Prime Minister Harper, who is not getting off easy for his government’s tacit support for the death penalty and for the U.S. version of the Soviet show trial. (more…)

Amnesty International launches campaign to bring Omar Khadr home
November 15, 2007
Posted by Stuart Trew
Amnesty International is asking people to send letters to Prime Minister Harper demanding that he “immediately request the repatriation of Omar Khadr and, if there is sufficient and admissible evidence, arrange for a fair trial before a Canadian court.” (more…)

“Special Advocates” will not improve security certificate process, says coalition
November 14, 2007
Posted by Stuart Trew
On October 22, the Conservative government tabled Bill C-3, an act that would re-introduce the security certificate process for detaining and deporting non-citizens suspected of posing a threat to national security. This fundamentally unjust process was knocked down by the Supreme Court of Canada in February on the grounds that it discriminates between citizens and non-citizens in the application of Canadian law. (more…)

For more information on the SPP, please visit www.IntegrateThis.ca.