Free Trade Shrinks Possibilities for Youth

“Trade agreements do not create jobs. Never have. Never will.” 
-- Michael Hart, Trade Policy, Carleton University 

Family Well-Being

Job security is a serious concern for everyone but especially weighs heavy in the hearts of parents of millennial children. Worry over shrinking opportunities for quality jobs is high here in Southwestern Ontario and throughout North America, particularly in traditional manufacturing regions. Caterpillar, Kellogg’s, Heinz closures come to mind. Your list may differ from mine but the disappearance of community infrastructure since the NAFTA 90’s is a shared experience. You know the story: parent company makes cuts, workers unite to protect a living wage, factory closes then reopens in a cheaper trade zone. NAFTA inspired the era of offshore and North Americans see its signs in their shrinking bank accounts and higher debt. Under free trade regimes that follow the NAFTA template (like the TPP) multitudes have, and will experience more family duress. 

Corporate Trade Creates Job Insecurity

There is a difference between having a job and job security. This difference has been experienced over and over by Canadian, American, and Mexican families under NAFTA. Over two decades into this next generation trade deal and all three signatory countries have seen rising unemployment and the swapping of full-time jobs for part-time work. It’s cause and effect — free trade’s admitted purpose is to send goods and services around the globe with no interference. This encourages corporations to move to where rent is cheaper. Canada has lost over 500 000 manufacturing jobs since factories left in 1989, the start of the new free trade. The closures haven’t stopped. Public Citizen data shows that over 845, 000 people are registered for compensation for job loss from free trade called Trade Adjustment Assistance in the US. The reality for both countries has likely been more undocumented job losses while large corporations abandon community relationships. The redeeming factor of NAFTA should have been the raising of quality of life in Mexico. But Mexico too has experienced lower wages and worse conditions in competitions for the cheapest costs. The Maquiladora free trade factory zones have become heavily concentrated with health and safety violations. Mexico lost over 2 million agriculture jobs because of the US’ subsidized corn industry. These deals lower standards and destroy community-business relations because of their purpose — to remove barriers to investors profits. We can do better with our trade designs but not until people know about their importance. There is more data but do we need it? We know unemployment has risen through the free trade years: we see community members out of work, we see the continual closure of mom–and–pop shops, and we see people desperate, yet hopeful, for job security. 

The TPP

There are trade and investment deals in negotiation now that are based on the NAFTA model but whose impacts will be broader. The Transpacific Partnership (TPP), a deal between the NAFTA countries and nine other Asia-Pacific nations, if passed, will set NAFTA-style norms for 40% of the world’s economy and include more sectors. That’s a lot of families whose jobs and wealth will be influenced. The TPP will make it easier for companies to offshore in places like Vietnam where minimum wage is approximately 60 cents per hour. We don’t typically think of minimum wage as a trade issue, but in the new deals, labour standards have been framed as an illegal barrier preventing investor profit. Egypt was sued in trade court for raising its minimum wage. Focusing on the cheapest deliverables cheapens society. The problem lies not in particular people or particular corporations but in a system that promotes business at the expense of communities. 

A Caring Economy for Families

There are many opportunities to create diverse trade patterns and raise the quality of society through ethical business. Some of the most popular businesses are becoming those that invest in social relationship and community well-being. Trade structures will need to respond to this change. People are returning to their local roots. We are beginning to emerge from free trade fog and it is every day people beckoning forth the change through what they desire — local food, local history, regional travel, and the emerging consciousness that every community needs to take care of its local fabric and workforce. This keeps us sovereign and fed! Let us continue to incent entrepreneurship in our communities and peel back the aspects of free trade that stifle local infrastructure. We are better than policy that offshores our children’s dreams only to break down communities elsewhere. This is one step forward for a program of trade that is healthy. Our families and children are worth it. Fair trade that nourishes communities could be our legacy.

Jennifer Chesnut

Trade Justice London 
London, Ontario Chapter
Council of Canadians

Originally published here:
http://newgenerationtrade.com/2015/05/24/free-trade-continues-to-shrink-kids-chances/

Monthly Meeting October 9, 2014: featured speaker, Sean Quigley

Thursday October 9, 2014
6:30 pm
London Public Library
Landon Branch
167 Wortley Rd.
London, Ontario

Martha Bishop Room 

FRAGRANCE FREE EVENT! Please be respectful of attendees who have serious allergies! 

All are welcome! Free! Refreshments! 
Donations to the coffee fund accepted gratefully! 

After meet and greet and a short business meeting, 

SEAN QUIGLEY

Executive Director of Emerging Leaders London Community Network, 

will speak on 

“Where Did All Our Talent Go?”

followed by Q&A. 

"The focus of the talk will be an overview of the Economics of SWO, The Talent Drain in London, and the Inability of traditional institutions to engage with the 20 to 44 year old demographic. London has been going through a shift in economics and demographics over the last 6 years. With the huge loss of employment in our city, the mass exodus of the 20 to 44 year old demographic, and the inability of traditional clubs and institutions to resonate with this group. there is a looming choice for London. Will we look continue to look to the past or create a modern future?"

Minutes of our last monthly meeting: http://londoncouncilofcanadians.ca/LondonCoCMeetingMinutes.pdf

October Agenda 
6:30 - 7:00 coffee, tea, snacks, social 
7:00 - 7:30 Business: Reports and Coming events 
Chair - Roberta Cory - National CoC Conference and AGM in Hamilton 
Website/social media - Rory 
Trade Justice - Jennifer - report on Anti CETA action 
Cinema Politica - Paula M. - "Finding Dawn” November 10, Central Library 
Water - Julie - Saturday, Oct. 18, Kairos sponsored conference “Downstream” 
Health - Jeff - Wed. Oct. 15, 6:00 pm Fox and Fiddle 
Energy - Roberta - Global Frackdown on Saturday, Oct. 11 
Food Security - Pollinator Sanctuary London - Margo 
OPAL actions - every Friday at 2:00 pm - call Roberta 519-601-2053 if going 
Peace - David and Paula - Friday, Oct. 10, 5:00 pm Vigil at Victoria Park 
Tabling - “Voices” event - Goodwill Building - Saturday, Oct. 18, volunteers needed London CoC AGM announcement - Jessie C., Committee Chair - Friday, November 28, 2014 
Democracy - Fair Elections and Proportional Representation 

7:30 - 8:30 Speaker: Sean Quigley - The London We Want: “Where Did All Our Talent Go?” Q and A 

8:30 - AGM committee - meet with Jessie C.
8:45 - Cleanup volunteers needed to get out by 9:00 pm November meeting - AGM

CINEMA POLITICA LONDON REVIVED! TODAY!

Cinema Politica London is happy to be back under new management after a two year hiatus! It is now being run by the Solidarity Film Coalition, a committee of the London Chapter of the Council of Canadians. Co-sponsors include L.A.C.A.S.A. (Latin American Canadian Solidarity Association), the London Public Library, and Seeds of Hope. Our kick-off film is, appropriately, "We Are Wisconsin", a rousing cheer leading inspiration to action for grassroots movements! It is guaranteed to knock your socks off! 

TODAY! Monday Sept. 8, 2014 at 7 pm in Stevenson & Hunt Room, London Public Library, 251 Dundas St.

All of our showings are free of charge, but we do welcome donations any time.

http://www.cinemapolitica.org/london

Walk of Solidarity! Saturday Feb. 1, 2014

MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release Jan. 13, 2014
On Saturday, February 1st Londoners are invited to join in a Walk of Solidarity for local workers. The walk will assemble at the Tolpuddle Housing Co-op, in the main floor, 380 Adelaide St. North, at 12 pm. It brings together a number of local groups, in recognition of the Inter-Continental Day of Trade Action on January 31st. As reported by the Trade Justice Network, “January 2014 marks the twenty-year anniversary of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a pact that has had devastating consequences for working families, small farmers, indigenous peoples, small business and the environment in all three countries and beyond. This is a call to action for communities throughout Mexico, Canada and the United States to join together on January 31, 2014, and say “ENOUGH!” to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other corporate “trade” deals.”
London-area groups participating in this event include: The Council of Canadians: Trade Justice London; the London and District Labour Council; LACASA; and the National Farmers’ Union. We will be walking in solidarity with employees of Kellogg’s, Heinz, and Canada Post, who have seen, or will see in 2014, significant job losses.
Globalization, and in particular new investor-state trade deals, beginning with NAFTA and continuing with CETA and the upcoming TPP, are of great concern to everybody, it seems, except our governments. NAFTA, touted by Prime Minister Mulroney as a great job-maker for Canada, actually saw the loss of about 500,000 manufacturing jobs in the past 20 years. It is a deal that has also destroyed jobs, businesses and industries in Mexico, where new economic prosperity was promised. Experts see CETA and the upcoming TPP as having even more drastic consequences for employment, public services, and for municipal governments across Canada.
Please feel welcome to join us in the Walk of Solidarity and Resistance to Free-Trade Globalization! At the conclusion of the walk, come in out of the snow and enjoy good company and food at the brand new East Village Coffee House, as we show the documentary Hoodwinked! We invite participants and the public to this powerful film that focuses on the truth about free trade in Canada. The film starts at 2:00 pm and admittance is free to all.
For information, please contact:
Trade Justice London Chair, Jennifer Chesnut, at: tradejusticelondon@gmail.com, or Trade Justice London editor/writer, Aldous Smith: aldoussmith@gmail.com, Aldous: 519-433-5841

For the Love of Canada, Stop CETA Actions in February 2013

Our "For the Love of Canada, Stop CETA" ad was published on Saturday, February 16, 2013, on page A11 in the London Free Press. Thanks to all of you who worked on making the ad happen, in your many capacities and talents. You can find a copy of it here.

"For the Love of Canada….." was the Valentine's Day theme for a Stop CETA action by the Trade Justice group starting on February 6 at the downtown library. Four hand made valentines were mailed to each and every premier as well as to MPs Susan Truppe, Ed Holder, Bev Shipley, and Ed Fast.

Continuing with the "For the Love of Canada…." theme, and in support of the Stop CETA ad in the paper that same day, members of the Trade Justice group and some of their supporters wore sandwich board signs in the shape of giant Valentines, while more volunteers handed out handbill "Valentines" with the theme "take our cities out of CETA"  and "keep it local: jobs, services, food." Copies of the handbill suitable for reproduction can be found here.

Photos of the Valentines and the handbill action can be seen by clicking on the image below.

Stop CETA Valentines Actions, London, Ontario, February 2013

Jennifer Chesnut's Radio Interview re CETA

Jennifer Chesnut, Trade Justice Chair 
London, Ontario Chapter, Council of Canadians

Part 1     Part 2     Part 3     Part 4     Part 5

Linda McQuaig: The Trouble With Billionaires

Poster: click here.

Citizens' Inquest and the London Chapter of the Council of Canadians is proud to present Linda McQuaig speaking on, “The Trouble with Billionaires: Gluttony and Hubris in an Age of Epic Inequality,” at the Wolf Auditorium, London Central Library on Thursday April 5, 2012 at 7:00 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Please mark your calenders. Linda McQuaig will also be speaking at the Vitali Student Lounge, Wemple Building, King's University College, 266 Epworth Ave., London on Thursday April 5, 2012 at 1:30 pm until 3:30 pm. Linda McQuaig well-known journalist and co-author of The Trouble with Billionaires. She will talk about how today’s extreme concentration of wealth at the top threatens the well-being of the 99 percent, and undermines our very democracy. Copies of her books will be available for purchase. Please forward to your friends and post on web sites and to your lists. Phone #: Contact Ed Corrigan Law Office 519-439-4015 Biographical Information on Linda McQuaig: Journalist and best-selling author Linda McQuaig has developed a reputation for challenging the establishment. As a reporter for The Globe and Mail, she won a National Newspaper Award in 1989 for writing a series of articles which sparked a public inquiry into the activities of Ontario political lobbyist Patti Starr, and eventually led to Starr's imprisonment. And as a Senior Writer for Maclean's magazine, McQuaig (and Ian Austen) wrote two cover stories probing the questionable business dealings of Conrad Black in connection with a U.S. takeover bid in the early 1980s. An irate Black suggested on CBC radio that McQuaig should be horsewhipped. In 1991, she was awarded an Atkinson Fellowship for Journalism in Public Policy to study the social welfare systems in Europe and North America.Since 2002, McQuaig has written an op-ed column for the Toronto Star. She is author of eight books on politics and economics – all national bestsellers – including Shooting the Hippo (short-listed for the Governor General's Award for Non-Fiction), The Cult of Impotence, All You Can Eat, It's the Crude, Dude: War, Big Oil and the Fight for the Planet, and Holding the Bully's Coat: Canada and the U.S. Empire. Her most recent book, co-authored with Neil Brooks, is The Trouble With Billionaires. Here is Linda McQuaig's recent article published by the Toronto Star on the London Electro-Motive locomotive, owned by US Multinational, Caterpillar, lock out in London, Ont. http://www.thestar.com/​opinion/editorialopinion/​article/​1116562--ottawa-favours-for​eign-businesses-over-canad​ian-employees Ottawa favours foreign businesses over Canadian employees Published On Mon Jan 16 2012 Locked-out workers at the Electro-Motive facility in London, Ont. U.S.-owned Caterpillar, Electro-Motive's parent company, wants to cut wages in half. Locked-out workers at the Electro-Motive facility in London, Ont. U.S.-owned Caterpillar, Electro-Motive's parent company, wants to cut wages in half. DAVE CHIDLEY/THE CANADIAN PRESS Image By Linda McQuaig Columnist Hundreds of shivering factory workers locked out of their plant by manufacturing giant Caterpillar in London, Ont., might well draw some warm comfort from — of all things — the sayings of Newt Gingrich. Of course, the conservative Republican presidential contender is no friend of labour or social justice; he recently proposed that poor children be schooled in the ways of free enterprise by being hired to clean school washrooms. Nonetheless, Gingrich, one of the stars of the Republican freak show, is desperate to defeat front-runner Mitt Romney. With the mitts off, Gingrich is denouncing Romney’s background as a Wall Street corporate raider, accusing him of practising a form of capitalism where “you basically take out all the money, leaving behind the workers.” The multi-millionaire Romney showed his empathy for working people by noting, in a discussion about private health care, that “I like being able to fire people who provide services” and insisting that comments about the rich having too much money should be confined to “quiet rooms.” All this has unleashed an unexpected and fierce debate about the brutality of unbridled capitalism — a debate the Republican establishment is scrambling to sweep back into the quiet rooms as quickly as possible. Here in Canada, Stephen Harper has tried to head off a similar debate, dismissing the relevance of Occupy Wall Street on the grounds that “we have a very different situation here than the United States.” In fact, under the Harper government, the slightly milder Canadian version of capitalism is rapidly giving way to a more virulent U.S.-style variant, with even greater wealth concentration and fewer protections for working people. Indeed, Gingrich’s depiction of a capitalism where “you basically take out all the money, leaving behind the workers” seems like a perfect description of what’s going on in London, where the highly profitable U.S.-owned Caterpillar is demanding its Canadian workforce accept a 50-per-cent wage cut. When the workers declined this take-it-or-leave-it offer, they were locked out on New Year’s Eve. If this isn’t ruthless, heartless capitalism — enough to make even Newt’s blood boil — it’s hard to imagine what is. Yet, as the 500 London workers have bundled up in the cold, the Harper government refuses to get involved, sitting silently on the sidelines as Caterpillar brings its notorious anti-union fervour to Canada. In fact, the Harper government is involved, having played a key role in bringing about this disaster for the London workers by approving the sale of the company, Electro-Motive Diesel, to foreign-owned Caterpillar in 2010, after supposedly investigating whether the deal was in Canada’s interests. The Canadian Auto Workers, which represents the locked out workers, believes Caterpillar purchased the plant with the intention of gaining technology and market share and then moving operations south. The Harper government also approved a foreign takeover by another notorious union-busting company, mining giant Rio Tinto, which has now locked out 800 workers in Alma, Que. The Canadian Labour Congress is demanding that Ottawa strengthen its foreign takeover laws to make the secretive review process more open, with public hearings in affected communities and publication of the conditions imposed — if any — on foreign owners. Ironically, the Harper government has complained forcefully about “foreign” interference from outside environmentalists protesting a proposed pipeline across the Rockies. But when it comes to foreign companies stripping Canadian workers of half their wages and then moving operations out of the country, the government hasn’t a negative word to say. Harper is of course staunchly pro-capitalist, and has aggressively lowered corporate tax rates, while refusing to link lower taxes to investment or job creation. But his anti-union stance, evident in disputes at Air Canada and the post office last summer, has been particularly provocative. He seems determined to turn Canada into an anti-union paradise — prompting the Ontario Federation of Labour to call for a mass rally at the Caterpillar plant in London this Saturday. As the PM gears up for his coming battle against federal public sector unions, he will no doubt draw inspiration from Mitt Romney’s stirring words: “I like to be able to fire people who provide services.”

Hey London! Some Local Concerns about CETA

Hey London!

Thinking about CATERPILLAR? If NAFTA had NOT been created, this corporation would never have been able to drop its workers the way it did. Do we want a continuous stream of CATERPILLAR situations in London in spreading sectors including universities, hospitals, and schools? Say no to a much uglier, more comprehensive version of NAFTA called CETA. If the rights of workers and their families’ futures matter to you, then you will want to speak up about CETA.

Hey London!

Remember EPCOR nearly buying London Hydro? If this had happened post-CETA, it would not have been possible to stop. CETA enables all sorts of corporations, even ones like EPCOR who have shares in ugly activity like the Alberta Tar Sands, to buy our energy and our water utilities. If we allow CETA to pass, we won’t be able to stop the purchase of London Hydro to the highest bidder. It will likely go to a French corporation like Veolia or Suez who has bought up enormous depths of public water around the world. If the sale of water from the Great Lakes matters to you, then speak up about CETA.

Hey London!

Care about the quality of our Canada Post mail service, our garbage collection, our Victoria Hospital, our school boards, Fanshawe college and UWO? All of these and more are at risk from partial to full sale to corporations overseas. When major corporations from Europe or the NAFTA partners, the US and Mexico, buy our services like the London Transit Commission, we won’t have any say over hours of service, types of service or rate of fees. If public service matters to you, then speak up about CETA.

Hey London!

Care about our city jobs? When CETA passes, there will be more downsizing of city jobs. The government will tell us that more jobs are created but has that been your experience of free trade over the past few decades? Expect more part-timing and more cuts to benefits in fields as diverse as the auto industry to health care. If your job and your friends and families’ jobs matter to you, then speak up about CETA.

Hey London!

Care about our local farmer’s markets? If we allow CETA to pass, more local farms will go under. Farming conditions will actually get worse. It will become illegal for farmers to save their seeds and they will be forced to buy them from major corporations like Monsanto. Further, hormones in beef and dairy will proliferate. If the health of farmers and the food system matters to you, then speak up about CETA.

Hey London!

Do you like to buy local? Would you rather spend your money in Wortley Village or one of London’s last-standing downtown businesses? If we allow CETA to pass, local contracts in many areas from goods to construction will be put at risk. The global free trade movement is the opposite of building the local economy. Foreign mega corporations will be allowed to sue our provincial and municipal governments for trying to build London’s local economy if it decreases their profits. One hundred and sixty million has already been given to American corporations under the rules of NAFTA’s corporate protection called Investor State. If you care about buying local, then speak up about CETA.

Hey London!

Do you already feel that there is a disproportionate amount of corporate media messaging in this city? CETA does not protect public broadcasting. If we allow CETA to pass, we can expect that less funding will go to our local stations and less Canadian content will be ensured. Further, the CBC will be at risk of being sold outright never to be returned to Canadian hands again. This is what trade does. It disallows newly elected governments to make new decisions for decades. Trade law is binding. If Canadian media channels from TV to radio to magazines matters to you, then you will want to help protect us and future generations from CETA.

Hey London!

Do you want to protect our natural areas like the Sifton Bog, Meadowlily Woods, and more? If we allow CETA to pass, foreign corporations will have much more influence in zoning laws than they have already had and be able to do with our green spaces as they wish. Our city bylaws will not protect our environmentally sensitive areas from development nor create a situation where we could extend upon what already is protected for future generations. If land, water and species matters to you, then so does CETA. Stop CETA now!

Hey London!

Do you think that all children have a right to corporate-free education? Kids have enough pressure from internet, videos, and tv already. In British Columbia, school boards have passed resolutions to exempt them from CETA. CETA does not protect the MUSH sector – municipal universities, schools and hospitals. If we allow CETA to pass, then our public education is at risk of purchase in part or whole from corporations. In the United States they already have some corporate scripted classes and mandatory commercials in schools because their schools are no longer publically owned. If you do not want London’s children influenced by corporate branding or consumerist views at school, then CETA matters to you. If you believe our government should invest more in the public education of our children, then trade justice matters to you. Contribute to this vision of our traditional Canada by speaking up against CETA.

Our city and our country are not investor states! For more information: www.stopceta.ca

Brought to you by concerned Londoners from STOPCETA–
a committee of The Council of Canadians – London chapter

For the pdf version of this document click here.

Solidarity Rally Saturday January 21, 2012

Our London Chapter will be out in great force on Saturday to support the Electro Motive workers & CAW in solidarity to achieve fair wage and benefits. Please schedule this event on your calendars!

London Chapter Members will be meeting with other Council of Canadians Chapters that will be attending this rally. Hamilton is confirmed with 6-8 members coming. Please give them a warm London Chapter welcome!

Please meet around 10:30am at the William Cafe Pub on Richmond Street at Central. From there we will march as a group to the Victoria band shell nearby at 10:45am for the 11am start of the rally. (grab a coffee/tea before we go!). I will have the COC Occupy banner. If you have yellow jackets/outerwear it will help us stand out as a group.

The rally will assemble for speeches at Victoria Park at 11am then head to the Electro Motive plant on Oxford Street.

There are 70 buses coming in from out of town plus local unions, organizations and supporting citizens numbering possibly around 10,000!

It would be a good idea to review all the materials noted in our January newsletter so that you are familiar with Electro Motive's December 27 Final Offer and the efforts that the CAW has made, starting in 2010, to have the Government complete due diligence on the foreign ownership of the plant and to negotiate fair wages and benefits for the workers.

Other groups meeting:

Green Party - SE Corner Victoria Park - near cenotaph

Occupy London - Reg Cooper Square - north side of City Hall

See you then!

Yours from the Chapter,

Don

Parking Outdoor: Available at street meters and downtown outdoor self serve parking lots - check hourly rate as the one across from the Courthouse (Talbot & Queens) is expensive.
Central Secondarys School lot - might be free if the school is not using it for a fundrasier - then $5 - located on Dufferin Street - east of Wellington Street
Convention Centre - off York Street (south side) - east of Wellington Street
Horton Street & Ridout Street - City lot - self serve - a bit of a walk to Victoria Park - 8 blocks - but it is large - good for buses after drop offs

Indoor parking lots.
Central library underground lot off of King Street (north side) east of Clarence is good for 2 hours free with library card & parking card stamped.
Citi Plaza - enter off of York Street or Clarence Street - west of Wellington Street
Dufferin Street - west of Richmond - two - one on the north side and one of the south side.
Convention Centre - off of York Street (north side) - east of Wellington Street

Use mapquest to locate.

Top Ten Reasons Why CETA is Bad for Canada

This is an excellent illustrated 4 page publication explaining what CETA is and why it and other free trade agreements are bad deals. "Top Ten Reasons Why CETA is Bad for Canada"

Bar Codes: Know Where Your Products and Food Come From

http://www.wikihow.com/Read-12-Digit-UPC-Barcodes

http://www.gs1ca.org/page.asp?LSM=0&intNodeID=82&intPageID=347

http://www.gs1ca.org/files/std_BarCodingBasicsforShippingContainers_en.pdf

http://www.gs1ca.org/files/std_BarCodingforDesignersPrintersPackagers_en.pdf

Bar Code first 3 digits:

690-692 MADE IN CHINA
00 - 09 USA & CANADA
30 – 37 FRANCE
40 – 44 GERMANY
471 Taiwan
49 JAPAN
50 UK

BUY USA & CANADIAN MADE by watching for "0" at the beginning of the number.

Remember that distributor country may be different from where the product was made.

From Don McLeod