PRESS RELEASE Occupy UWO: Our Communities Are Not For Sale!
For Immediate Release 2012-02-24
Although many don’t know it yet, Canada is in the final stages of negotiating a trade agreement with the European Union that is much more powerful than NAFTA. Known as CETA, the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, will be putting things on the table that are not normally considered trade items such as drinking water and the entire MUSH sector – Municipal services, Universities, Schools and Healthcare. More than just a trade agreement, CETA is the impetus for long-term restructuring through the sale of Canadian public infrastructure to foreign corporations. Costs of essential services are certain to rise including an estimated two billion dollar increase for drugs per year. If signed, CETA will threaten Canada’s municipal economies, public service jobs, environment, buy local movements, and more. This long-term trade contract will set new policy for Canadian cities including London that will limit our economic options. A growing national movement is responding with thirty-five municipalities and school boards already having passed resolutions to protect them from CETA. A similar resolution will be discussed by the legislature of Manitoba for protection of the whole province. Occupy UWO is the second in a series of London symposiums that aim to open public discussion on CETA. Following the first successful symposium featuring internationally acclaimed Canadian activist Maude Barlow, the second will include First Nations leaders Mary Lou and Dan Smoke, MP Irene Mathyssen, former City Councillor Gina Barber, local business owner Dr. Linda Wayne, as well as representatives of local unions and London’s chapter of the global Occupy movement. Sponsored by the London Chapter of The Council of Canadians and King’s College Social Justice and Peace Club, participants will connect the dots between Canada’s turn toward CETA, loss of jobs, and the Occupy Movement. Politics that will impact all of our day to day lives, you are invited to get informed at this evening of speeches, discussion and the arts. Occupy UWO takes place on Thursday, March 1, 2012, 7 pm, at Labatt Hall, King’s College, The University of Western Ontario. The event is free with a reception following.
#### For more information contact:
Rod Morley
stopCETA committee of The Council of Canadians – London Chapter
519 872-0008 or rmorley1@sympatico.ca
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