Editor:
When Dick Harris’ constituency office was phoned to ask the whereabouts of Mr. Harris in order to ask some questions about the Canadian-European Union Free Trade Agreement, the polite and pleasant woman answering my call asked what CETA was.
That’s how I know not everyone has heard about CETA.
She then gave me Mr. Harris’ e-mail. And by the way, Mr. Harris hasn’t answered any of my e-mail correspondence.
That’s also how I know people in the position of knowing will not talk about CETA.
I can only conclude that other people do not know about CETA either.
On Jan. 14 of this year, the Council of Canadians asked for a working text of the CETA agreement.
The request was denied. Somewhat surprising! After all, last October, Prime Minister Harper announced that an agreement in principle was reached with the head of the European parliament, and details would be worked out.
The prime minister declared the deal “is good for Canada.”
If the deal is so good why keep it secret?
In the January issue of Country Life in B.C. Wally Smith, president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, says, “The Canada-European Union Free Trade Agreement is a good deal for Canada but not a good deal for the Canadian dairy industry.”
Wally Smith estimates that the deal will cost producers $150 million.
The government has affirmed that any losses suffered by dairy producers will be compensated by government.
Smith reminds us that compensation is a subsidy.
Why does a good deal need to be subsidized? What else is in CETA that is good for Canada, but we are not allowed to see?
Smith concludes his warning by urging producers to talk to their politicians because “government is not hearing from farmers.”
Maybe government is just not listening to Canadians?
Peter Smith
Williams Lake