Harper's attempt to quietly sign the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union

CKUT News | December 12, 2011

CKUT's Off the Hour: Harper's attempt to quietly sign the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union

A report from a protest against the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in Quebec city

by Candice Cascanette

Download file 'ceta.mp3' (8.1MB)

The Quebec Network on Continental Integration, a coalition of unions, student groups, humanitarian groups and environmentalists, manifested yesterday at L'Hotel du Parlement in Quebec City to denounce the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement also known as CETA, a free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union.

CETA is in the final stages of negotiations and if signed it will encourage the privatization of Canada's public sector, including Canada's water, it will put corporate interests before environmental rights, increase the cost of pharmaceutical drugs, it will disadvantage buy local economies, and prioritize the interests of multinational corporations over local democracy. The negotations for CETA have been kept very secret by the Conservative government, as they are trying to get thie free trade agreement signs without Canadians noticing.

Last Thursday, a protest in quebec City was held to demand a public debate about CETA take place now.

Originally aired on CKUT's Off the Hour, Friday, December 9, 17-18h.