CANADIAN POLITICS:

HARPER DODGES THE COLOMBIAN BULLET:

I have expressed my admiration for our dearly beloved comrade leader Steven Harper many times before on this blog. Not for any great moral convictions on his part, for he has none, but for his sheer stellar political skill. Standing atop an unstable coalition of evangelical nutters and free market ideologues he has set his sights on the ultimate goal- power, and he has occasionally stumbled but never faltered in his pursuit of this goal. No doubt the knives will be especially sharp when he eventually fails , and there is no indication that he will pull off what is impossible ie a majority Conservative consensus amongst the population. When he falls expect a long period in the wilderness for Canadian conservatism. Not for want of trying on his part.

His skill was demonstrated in the last few days when the legislation for the Canadian/Colombian Free Trade Pact was removed from the order paper of the House of Commons. Not that it is a burning issue to most Canadians, but Harper wants as few distractions as possible as he waits for the calends when the polls favour him to call an election. The following is from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) thanking those who have written both the government, and the equally treacherous Liberal Party, opposing the deal(see previous items at this blog). No doubt the letters had some effect, but Molly is still of the opinion that the need to avoid "distraction" was the major reason for this decision.

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Temporary victory on Canada-Colombia trade deal‏:
Once again, the Harper government has blinked and taken the Canada Colombia free trade agreement off the order paper, after your voices and those of other Canadians made them realize that it wouldn't be an easy passage in their first week back.

However, the Conservatives are still determined to get this through despite the Colombian governments deplorable record on human rights and the growing scandal of government officials connected to narco traficking and para military groups.

When the act is re-introduced, we will be asking you to once again continue to put pressure on your officials. Thank you for your ongoing support of human rights in Colombia.

CANADIAN POLITICS/INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS:

NO TO COLOMBIAN/CANADA FREE TRADE BILL ON MONDAY:

This coming Monday, September 14, the House of Commons will be voting on a proposal to set up a free trade deal with Colombia. Colombia is a country of massive human rights violations, and it would merely encourage the government there on its present course to give its good most favoured nation status. There are indications that Liberal MPs will support the government on this bill. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has launched a email campaign to Liberal MPs and their leader Michael Ignatieff, asking that they vote against the Bill. Here's the appeal.

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Vote coming on Canada Colombia Free Trade:
The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement is to be the first order of business when the House of Commons reconvenes on Monday, Sept. 14. There are strong indications that Liberal MPs will support the bill.

We managed to back them off once before - we need to do it again.

Send a message to Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and his leading MPs. Urge them to oppose the CCFTA.

Ask your friends and family to do likewise.

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THE LETTER:

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter to Michael Ignatieff and other members of the Liberal caucus.

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I am writing to urge you to reject the Canada-Colombia trade deal.

I've heard it's to be the first item of business when parliament reconvenes Sept. 14.

Under the government of President Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian people are living in a constant state of poverty and fear.

The Uribe government has one of the worst human rights records in the world.

Under Uribe’s watch, an estimated 5 million Colombians have been forcibly displaced through land seizures, trade unionists and civil society activists risk death simply for advocating basic labour rights.

More than 2,500 have been killed by the state and its paramilitaries since 1986, including 40 in 2008.

And yet the Harper Conservatives have tabled legislation to implement a free trade agreement with Colombia.

Human rights must come before trade.

I hope the Liberal Party will put the well-being of 45 million Colombians first, and oppose ratifying the impending trade deal with Colombia.