Thank You Maude Barlow

Wow! Never thought I would ever utter those words aloud, let alone commit them to a written form!

In an editorial that I read in the Calgary Herald today (Integration Talks Kept in the Dark...need to be a subscriber, sorry), she talked about talks that occurred from September 12-14 in Banff with Stockwell Day, Godon O'Connor, and "included such prominent figures as U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Mexican Secretary of Public Security Eduardo Medina Mora and General Rick Hillier" at the second "North American Forum"

Well, our friend, Ms. Barlow, goes on to describe the purpose of the meeting as "priming North America for better business..."

So far, so good...better business is a good thing, right?

She even goes on to confirm Canada's preferential position in terms of energy supplies to the US: "The U.S. administration -- anxious to keep up with its country's high energy demands -- has shown great interest in this "secure" energy source located just north of its border."

I knew it couldn't last, however..."Given the detrimental impacts of oilsand extraction on our environment..." and what would a Maude Barlow work be without "the media should pay better attention to this marriage between our governments and big corporations." (Emphasis mine)....she can't resist taking pokes at "big corporations"...who incidentally employ most of her big labour friends.

Thanks for bringing this meeting to our attention...good work Messers Day and O'Connor for recognizing that further economic integration is in the best interest of all Canadians!