'We are quite right to ask, to demand to know, exactly what is going on here.'

By Larry Brown
National Secretary-Treasurer
National Union of Public and General Employees

Ottawa (22 August 2007) - What’s all the fuss about this ‘SPP’ – the Security and Prosperity Partnership between Canada, the US, and Mexico?

After all, government officials from the three countries downplay the whole concept, and no less a figure than Tom d’Aquino, of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), has said the issues discussed at the SPP are "quite important but frankly quite boring. They're not terribly exciting."

Prime Minister Harper made the talks at Montebello sound pretty innocuous: "In Montebello, we will discuss, among other things, the competitiveness of our businesses, energy and the environment, the efficiency of our borders and our preparedness for emergencies and disasters," he said in outlining the list of topics to be discussed.

Granted, at first blush that all sounds as dull as Mr. d’Aquino would have us believe it is.

On the other hand, President Bush has a different list of topics on the agenda: "enhancing global competitiveness, safety of food and products, sustainable energy and the environment, smart and secure borders, as well as energy management." (Food safety and energy management must be among the “other things” that Mr. Harper mentioned.)

So why the protests? Why the high level of anxiety among people in all three countries about the SPP?

Read complete article HERE.