TPP negotiations unknown to most Canadians

The Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations are unknown to most Canadians according to the findings of a recent survey.

The poll, conducted by Environics Research Group for Trade Justice Network, revealed that 75 per cent of respondents had not heard of the TPP, which is currently being negotiated with 11 other Pacific Rim countries and would cover more than a third of the world’s trade.

‘We’ve lost tens of thousands of jobs to Mexico”

The survey of 1,002 Canadians was commissioned by Trade Justice Network (TJN).  This is a coalition of social, labour, environmental, student and other groups concerned about the secrecy and anti-democratic provisions of international trade negotiations.

Martin O’Hanlon, a spokesperson for the TJN says, ‘there’s a fundamental democratic issue here” when three out of four Canadians are unaware of what is at stake, and that, as Australia’s trade minister said today is “literally one week of negotiation” away.

“this free-trade idea, well you know it’s free for some people, it’s not free for others”

Martin O’Hanlon says free-trade is great for Viet Nam where people are making 65 cents an hour, but it’s not great for Canada because if you’re a manufacturer here and you’re possibly thinking of shipping your jobs overseas. the fact that can now get 65 cents an hour wages could be the tipping point.”

“Most Canadians have no idea that this deal is being negotiated in secret under the guidance of multinational corporations with no input from labour leaders, environmental experts or even MPs,” O’Hanlon said in a joint press release from the TJN and the Council of Canadians. “It’s frightening that this can happen in a democracy.”

One of the most troubling things about the TPP is the fact that multinational corporations would have the power to override Canadian sovereignty and sue our governments under secretive trade tribunals, O’Hanlon said.