Stop the SPP (Security and Prosperity Partnership)

First, an email from Don Grayston, retired SFU professor:

Friends,

I waited until today to send out this message, because I didn't want to spoil your long weekend. It concerns the SPP, the so-called "Security and Prosperity Partnership," which has been cooked up by a group of CEOs in concert with cabinet ministers from Canada, the United States and Mexico. If not beaten back, it will lead to the formation, in effect, of the United States of North America, in which Canada will be very much a junior partner, if partner is even the right word.

If there is not massive public resistance to this project, I very much fear that we will awake one bright morning in the near future to find ourselves in a social context which it would not be an exaggeration to call fascist. As I understand fascism, it involves the union of rightist political elements with rightist economic sectors. I debated with myself about using the word "fascist"--which I do use in its ordinary meaning--and have decided that it is not too strong for what may happen.

The heads of government of the three countries (Harper, Bush, Calderon) will be meeting in Montebello, Québec, August 20-21 to move the SPP forward. As the articles in the attachment accompanying this email will tell you, the RCMP and the Sûreté du Québec on their own cannot be trusted, it seems, to provide security on Canadian soil to the satisfaction of the U.S. delegation; and therefore ... wait for it ... the U.S. Army will be in charge of security. I hope that you are as outraged at this as I am.

So what can we do? In a number of places across Canada, there will be protests on August 20. I plan to be part of the protest in Vancouver that day, at 3.00 pm at Canada Place. Check your local information sources to find out about demonstrations in your own area.

The first article in the attachment is short, the second is long. For your own sake, to say nothing of that of your children, friends and loved ones, I ask you to make the time to sit down and read both of them. If you do, I will be amazed if you do not feel as I do, that this is a time--dammit, why did they have to have their meeting in the summer!!!--for personal response.

Yesterday I attended a fundraiser for Joyce Murray in Quadra riding (near UBC), at which Michael Ignatieff, deputy leader of the federal Liberal Party, was speaking. I took the opportunity to ask him about the SPP. He said that he shared my concern, and that Stéphane Dion, the Liberal party leader, is calling together a group of MPs to strategize about how to respond to the challenge that the SPP represents. I will be paying close attention to see whether or not and to what extent this happens; and I encourage those of you who support other political parties to make sure that your party knows about this issue and that it plans to respond, or, to speak more directly, to raise an almighty stink.

Happy to have your feedback on this matter. All good things to you meantime.

O Canada!

Donald Grayston

Article 1: Military To Crackdown On North American Union Protesters

Article 2: The Militarization and Annexation of North America

Other Resources:

Here is a listing of all the Stop SPP events happening across the country and in and around Montebello, Quebec. Fact sheets for the National Day of Action can be downloaded here.

The federal Green Party is also getting involved. Sign their petition here. The Greens will also be hosting a SPP Counter Summit:

Green Party of Canada Counter Summit

When: August 20th, 9 am – 5 pm

Where: St. Paul University, 223 Main Street, Ottawa. Room 203, Guigues Hall.

Registration is free but we suggest bringing a brown-bag lunch.

Speakers will include Green Party leader Elizabeth May, International Trade critic Dr. Janet Eaton and Ralph Pentland, former director of water planning and management with the Canadian Department of the Environment. Members of the Green Party of the US will be on hand to offer their support.

Click here to view the full agenda.

For more information, please contact the Green Party at 1-866-868-3447.

To learn more about the SPP, click here.