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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

FELDSTED: Our negotiators are juggling hand grenades, with the pins pulled, primarily because they are immune from the effects of an explosion


Freeland postpones UN speech today amid NAFTA talks and looming deadline …  was set to speak today but traded General Assembly spot for Monday 
Elise von Scheel  ~~ CBC News  ~~  Sep 29, 2018

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland's speech to the UN General Assembly in New York City today (Sept 29th) will now take place Monday due to NAFTA talks, and officials say there is a strong possibility someone else might have to deliver the remarks on Canada's behalf.

Freeland, who is in the throes of a last-stage effort to secure a North American free trade deal, traded her time slot on the UN rostrum, according to officials in the minister's office. 
Officials told CBC News that the postponement of her speech was due to the trade negotiations, which sources say intensified this week …

As of Saturday morning, the minister was still in Canada. Sources with direct knowledge of the talks told CBC News that David MacNaughton, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., had flown to Ottawa to be part of the concentrated Canadian effort. 

The text of the existing US - Mexico deal is expected to be published by Sunday, and there have been fears that Congress would be willing to press ahead with the bilateral agreement if Canada can't get a deal done.

Read on: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/nafta-deadline-freeland-un-washington-canada-1.4844134?cid=


The misinformation from our government, and from the media, is disgusting ...


“Freeland, who is in the throes of a last-stage effort to secure a North American free trade deal, traded her time slot on the UN rostrum, according to officials in the minister's office. 

Officials told CBC News that the postponement of her speech was due to the trade negotiations, which sources say intensified this week in the face of Monday's U.S. congressional deadline.”

Wait just one minute.  The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has not expired.

NAFTA is still intact and in place.

All the angst, and rhetoric, are over revisions to NAFTA, driven by U.S. President Trump.

Trump has threatened to withdraw from NAFTA if he does not get changes. He can do so by providing notice required, and with the approval of the US Congress and Senate.  Talk of the US and Mexico moving ahead with a separate deal to replace NAFTA is not possible.

Until Mexico, and the US, provide notice of withdrawal from NAFTA, the agreement remains in force. Until Congress and the Senate approve the withdrawal of the United States, NAFTA continues in force.

NAFTA negotiations have turned into (very bad) political theatre. Neither Canada, nor the United States, are interested in effects on the economies or societies of their respective nations. They are both locked in an ego-driven power struggle that can seriously disrupt living standards of both nations.

Those with high incomes, or accumulated wealth, will feel effects the least, but tens of millions of ordinary citizens will not be so fortunate. Our negotiators are juggling hand grenades, with the pins pulled, primarily because they are immune from the effects of an explosion.

Negotiations are taking place behind closed doors, not because they are too complex for us to understand, but because leaders are afraid we will understand.
         
Freeland says they've decided to not conduct their NAFTA negotiations in public

Why? What do you have to hide from the public you serve?



John Feldsted is a political consultant and strategist, who makes his home in Winnipeg, Manitoba
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