Strengthen Our Sovereignty
The Harper government is moving Canada along a path towards continental economic and social integration aimed at establishing common policies between Canada, the United States and Mexico in 300 policy areas, including:
- environmental protection
- security
- energy
- food and health standards
- foreign affairs
- military
- immigration
It is known as the Security and Prosperity Partnership – or SPP - and implementation is taking place behind closed doors with no democratic mandate from the Canadian, American or Mexican public. Canada’s Parliament has not been allowed to review, debate or vote on this process at any stage.
Under the SPP, Canada will have less and less ability to adopt independent and sustainable economic, social, cultural and environmental policies. Without any meaningful Parliamentary review, harmonization of health, safety, and environmental standards will lead to a race to the bottom where everyday Canadians lose out.
In June 2006, the NDP brought together and hosted a Tri-National Forum of legislators and civil society representatives from Canada, the United States and Mexico to discuss alternatives to deep integration.
In April 2007, despite Conservative opposition, NDP Trade Critic Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster) fought for and secured Parliamentary hearings on the SPP. This was an important achievement but much work still needs to be done.
Our NDP MPs have been working hard in their respective critic portfolios to raise the alarm about what SPP will mean in areas such as agriculture, human rights, labour, the environment, health care, energy and income security.
The NDP will continue to show leadership, working to ensure that any further developments on the SPP are stopped until a full legislative review, public debate and parliamentary vote take place.
The NDP is fighting to close the prosperity gap and is leading the fight for fairness for ordinary Canadians - and that means taking on powerful corporate interests and the SPP.