Manifest Destiny- 2011 Edition

Yesterday, as the 70th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor were commemorated, U.S. President Barack Obama and Stephen Harper (P.M. of the Harper Government) were in Washington to make an announcement regarding the future of trade and security integration between the worlds two largest trading partners. Many on both sides of the border are crying foul, as the deal on the surface appears to cede Canadian sovereignty to U.S. security officials in the name of free (er) trade.

I personally have nothing to hide, but neither did Maher Arar and any number of Guantanamo inmates that had their lives disrupted because of the security hysteria that has swept the U.S. and the world since 9/11. U.S. security officials have been known to act impulsively then ask questions later (if at all). But security is but one facet of this deal that will surely benefit big business (doesn't everything?).

But what most people don't seem to remember, is that this is a process that was started so many years ago by our former P.M.'s Chretien and Martin with their counterparts from Mexico and the U.S. "The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America" was a deal that was negotiated during the days of Clinton and Chretien and was the precursor to the deal we now have in front of us. Critics on both sides of the border claimed that the deal at the time would eventually lead to an EU style North America complete with a single currency and trade regulations. And really, can anyone remember the last time a deal like this has been agreed to that benefited the people?

This deal also has provisions in it that would allow U.S. and Canadian security officials to police both sides of the border in case of an "emergency." This to me is the big issue here.

 As we've seen with the recent Occupy Wall Street protests, U.S. police have shown an evident lack of respect for their own citizens. And although the deal appears to enable "teams" of police from the RCMP and the U.S., the incremental writing is on the wall. If these past deals are of any indication, this will eventually be expanded to allow more police on both sides to enforce laws in a foreign country in times of emergency such as, oh, I don't know... economic collapse and massive civil unrest?

From today's Toronto Star;

Harmonization: Ottawa intends to harmonize commercial regulations with the U.S. that could have significant impact on Canadians. Rules governing agriculture and food products are just one area where there may be changes. For instance, the two countries seem intent on creating a “common meat nomenclature” in the years ahead to end discrepancies in classification of cuts. But there are also likely to be changes across a wide range of products, including vehicle safety standards, boating gear such as life jackets, health products, workplace chemicals, environmental standards and the approval process for new prescription drugs.

 So here's a scenario for you. November of 2012 comes along, and Barack Obama finds himself defeated by Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry or Michelle Bachman, all of which want to rid the country of the E.P.A. We will then be forced to accept their environmental standards? Or their corrupt system of prescription drug approval? No thank you. I try to avoid meat and dairy products from the U.S. already because quite frankly, I don't trust the U.S.D.A. Most bureaucracies in the U.S. function as little more then rubber stamps for the businesses they are charged with regulating (S.E.C. anyone?).

None of this is set in stone, no treaty has been signed,. It's now up to us to figure out a way to stop this deal. The future of this country may depend on it.