Human Rights First! Stop Canada-Colombia Free Trade
May 6, 2010 *URGENT ACTION NEEDED*
Urge federal Liberal Party MPs to VOTE NO on a Conservative Party motion that would abruptly and prematurely stop committee hearings on the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Click here to sign the petition!
The movement in opposition to the Canada-Colombia FTA has been growing across Canada, Colombia and the United States. The pressure from unions and civil society to halt the passage of Bill C-23 (the Canada-Colombia free trade agreement) in Canadian parliament has served to divide opinions within the Liberal Party and, for the time being, remove this debate from the parliamentary agenda.
If the Canadian government chooses to ratify the proposed free trade deal with Colombia, Canada will remove any leverage or influence it might have to help improve the country's terrible human rights record.
Unionized workers in Colombia have born the brunt of a violent government regime, making Colombia the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist. Thousands of unionists have been targeted and murdered in Colombia over the past decades. Despite efforts from the international community to bring attention to these horrific crimes, the trend continues today. Worse yet, few are charged or held accountable for these actions.
The Harper government has a moral responsibility to ensure international human rights laws are enforced in all countries, especially those with whom Canada has a trading relationship. Canada must stand up for human rights, not sit idly by while they are trampled.
TAKE ACTION! Have your voice heard!
Here's how:
- Send a letter to Michael Ignatieff - Leader of the Opposition (click here)
- Send a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper (click here)
- Get others involved! Encourage them to sign the petition! (click here)
Follow the links below to download more information:
Free trade with the European Union is a bad idea for Canada
The Harper government's relentless push to sign a new Canada-EU free trade deal would undermine the rights of federal, provincial and municipal governments to manage public spending over goods and services; it would privatize public services like drinking water, prevent us from adopting strong measures to combat climate change and wipe out up to 150,000 Canadian jobs, among a long list of additional concerns. CAW President Ken Lewenza says:
So far, all signs point to a free trade deal that is lopsided, unfair and would do more harm than good to Canadians. 
