What the business elite is not telling you about Atlantica.

Atlantica and the Coy Agenda for Continental Integration

by Charles Fournier

The Atlantica concept is an enigma for most people in the Atlantic Provinces. It is an agenda that has brought elites in the region to a consensus that Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec needs to economically, socially and politically integrate with Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Upstate New York to form a single coherent entity. The chief proponents of this concept are Brian Lee Crowley, President of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS), and Jim Quigley, President of the Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce (APCC) and Vice-President of the Bank of Montreal. They have been promoting the “Atlantica” concept to Business and political leaders in the region. Most have not been made aware of the designs they are drawing, and would abhor their Neo-conservative prescriptions for the future of Atlantic Canada.

Mr. Crowley and AIMS have been the chief architect of the Atlantica concept. AIMS is a well funded big business think tank, with Atlantica Canada’s wealthiest families represented on it’s Board of Directors, that is based out of Halifax.

In a speech to an APCC meeting in Montague PEI on May 29th of 2004, Crowley laid out his vision of “Atlantica” which contained three central ideas. The first of which is to turn the Atlantic Provinces and New England into a “transport intensive economy”. To accomplish this would mean doing two things. Firstly, building a highway from St. Stephen, NB through New England to Cornwall ON, and Montreal. Secondly, upgrading the Halifax port to accommodate Post-Panamax sized cargo ships. Crowley doesn’t take into account the fact that the world is running out Oil. Also the trade routes he wants to create by-pass Newfoundland and the Francophone regions of New Brunswick.

The second and most alarming central idea to “Atlantica” is Continental Integration. This follows from a report called “Building a North American Community” written by the “Task Force for the Future of North America” which is an ad hoc coalition of the Canadian Council of Chief Executes, the US Council on Foreign Relations and their Mexican counterparts the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internationals. The document makes 41 sweeping recommendations that read like a Christmas list for the Neo-Conservative hawks that are now in power south of the border. The recommendations centre around, first, creating an integrated North American Military and Law Enforcement Security apparatus that would transcend national boundaries and building a common North American security perimeter. Secondly, they call for an expansion of the NAFTA agreement to include Non-Tariff barriers to Trade (i.e. Public Services and cultural protections) and the harmonisation of Government regulations between Canada, the US and Mexico.

Many of the recommendations of the report are already being implemented such as the “Smart Regs” initiative of the Martin Government which took the first steps towards regulatory harmonisation. The recommendations, if implemented, would decimate Canadian sovereignty. Canada would no longer be able set it’s own regulation around food safety, health, the environment and slew of other jurisdictions. By far the most frightening recommendations are around defence and boarder security which would expand NORAD into a “Multi-service Defence Command” or one central military command for all of North America.

The other recommendations around energy, the creation of new tri-national institutions and immigration are just as draconian and would be met with disgust by the average Canadian. The Continental Integration agenda being lobbied for by the nation’s business elites would be the end of Canada as a sovereign nation and the consolidation of US power over North America.

The third central idea of the “Atlantica” concept is “Regional Coherence Building”. This means integrating energy infrastructure and creating new cross border institutions that would replace previous structures and deepen the geo-political relationship between Atlantic Canada and the New England States. Much of the impetus for this has come from the Federal government which directed the Policy Research Initiative (PRI) to study “Cross Border Economic regions” through the North American linkages research project. PRI has set up five regional roundtables dream up cross border economic regions from coast to coast.

What is carefully omitted from this Vision of Atlantica are the implications it carries for the standard of living of working people. The phrase “non-tariff barriers to trade” is glossy terminology for removing any public institution, act of legislation or government regulation that inhibits the ability of business to make profit. The APCC is hosting a conference in Saint John from June 8-10th called “Reaching Atlantica: Business Without Boundaries”. This kind of language leads one to wonder how far they will take this and if anything is sacred? Proponents of Atlantica, such as Crowley, Jim Quigley and Dennis Savoie are already talking about scrapping minimum wage legislation, privatising health care, restricting access to employment insurance, decertifying unions and closing rural communities. The Conference’s largest sponsors are the Bank of Montreal and Irving Oil.

What is more unsettling is that the Atlantica Concept does not offer any ideas for the basic resource industries that have been the traditional economic activity of Atlantic Canada for centuries. Not a word of mention for farming, forestry and the fishery, all industries which have experienced major closures and economic setbacks in recent years causing untold hardship for working people. Also, Atlantica offers no solutions to the major challenges that are confronting our collective future in Atlantic Canada including the out-migration of young people and the acute aging of the population, the challenges posed by climate change, and the precipitous decline in the standard of living for the majority of Atlantic Canadians.

In the same pattern as the negotiations for NAFTA, the WTO and the FTAA, civil society groups are not at the table nor are they invited to the Atlantica negotiations. On the official promotional website for the “Reaching Atlantica: Business Without Boundaries” conference those invited are: “small business owners, CEO’s, managers and executives, as well as Government representatives from the four Atlantic Provinces and the US Northeast”. What is more astounding is how discrete the planning for this conference has been. There has been no mention in the print or broadcast media. The secretive nature should set off warning bells in civil society. If they don’t want you at the table then they are likely planning something that you won’t like.

The Atlantica concept needs to be exposed for what it really is, an attack on our social programs and rights for working people and the environment, a big business free for all and the annexation of Atlantic Canada by the United States.

Dissolving the border is not

Dissolving the border is not enough to make a real difference. I think that the border should be dissolved and Mexico split up into US states, but also with coinciding healthcare reform for both countries. Dissolving the border would grant Mexican workers amnesty, making them eligible to join unions and be subject to more humane working conditions. However, a lot of people fail to realize what type of impact this would have on Americans if there is no corresponding healthcare overhaul. I've known plenty of ppl that have gone down to Mexico for various surgeries ranging from getting their ACL sewn back on to breast implants. In fact, my friend just had a mastectomy and went to TJ to gdet the reconstruction surgery because of the over the top costs in America. If you look at the breast augmentation before and after pictures, you'll see the difference in quality that Americans are subjected to because of our failed healthcare ystem. Spoiler alert: don't click on the link if you just ate. By merging Mexico with the US and overhauling the health care system, we'd be able to end this ridiculous trend of jumping the border for sketchy surgeries. Yes, America will lose the slave labor of the Mexicans that keep most of our industries running, but if they could survive abolition back in the 19th century, they they can survive this.

The recommendations center

The recommendations center around, first, creating an integrated North American Military and Law Enforcement Security apparatus that would transcend national boundaries and building a common North American security perimeter. Thanks.
Regards,
california auto insurance

Most have not been made

Most have not been made aware of the designs they are drawing and would abhor their Neo-conservative prescriptions for the future of Atlantic Canada. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
cheap dental plans

cialis

Cheap Cialis

RSQcSE Cheap Cialis %-[[[ Viagra >:]] Phentermine online GPrkZj

nice post

Buy Cialis

AbuIScj Buy Cialis >:]] Viagra 6730 Phentermine DOgbWl

The Continental Integration

The Continental Integration agenda being lobbied for by the nation’s business elites would be the end of Canada as a sovereign nation and the consolidation of US power over North America. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Foreign Currency Exchange

Most have not been made

Most have not been made aware of the designs they are drawing, and would abhor their Neo-conservative prescriptions for the future of Atlantic Canada. Thanks.
Regards,
minnesota attorney

People will be more active

People will be more active on working.
surety bond company

cialis

generic cialis online cialis without prescription , buy cialis no prescription buy cialis , generic prednisone no prescription generic prednisone no prescription

The recommendations centre

The recommendations centre around, first, creating an integrated North American Military and Law Enforcement Security apparatus that would transcend national boundaries and building a common North American security perimeter. Thanks.
Regards,
fold up after party shoes

Nice content, I trust this

Nice content, I trust this is a nice blog. Wish to see fresh content next time.
personal injury lawyer

cheap cialis

The federal officers are the

The federal officers are the one who should take care of it.
travel infections

thank you

Thanks for the constructive feedback :) regarding the Overworld film izle
And yes it's true that because of the new Overworld mechanic, it doesn't seem 'empty' at times like TWW did when you were moda
Please don't forget that N-europe is run 'voluntarily' and so sometimes setbacks and delays occur not because we want them to but due to other real-life happenings beyond our reasonable control; porno

generic cialis

Buy Phentermine

sbjpkENL Buy Phentermine 3622 Tramadol >:-OOO

viagra

Cheap Phentermine

GYNJYz Cheap Phentermine PqGwZ Cheap Tramadol yUqla

viagra

Buy Viagra

bDKijq Buy Viagra 3386 Cialis %-[[[

Buy Viagra

XRtkZWu Buy Viagra 8]]] Cheap Cialis %-[[[

viagra

burning calories burning

Valium online

WDXijQA Valium online >:]] Xanax online gXJKUq Cheap Ambien GijsV

Xanax

totZWUut Xanax :-O Cheap Ambien 2488 Valium :-O

Business Websites

I really love this article.

I really love this article. It proved to be very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenter here! It's always nice when you can not only be informed, but also engaged! I'm sure you had fun writing this article.
Regards,
poker en ligne

Sorry(((473987114784

82742754554074058424hi , http://ecarswiki.com/ How to repair car wiki , http://ecarswiki.com/article,62,honda-pressure-washers Honda pressure washers , and also visit page
http://ecarswiki.com/article,50,2008-honda-civic 2008 honda civic , we have ;( many links.. http://ecarswiki.com/article,3,honda-element-accessories elements

Sorry(((443578074613

98167317945565101952hi , http://ecarswiki.com/ How to repair car wiki , http://ecarswiki.com/article,62,honda-pressure-washers Honda pressure washers , and also visit page
http://ecarswiki.com/article,50,2008-honda-civic 2008 honda civic , we have ;( many links.. http://ecarswiki.com/article,3,honda-element-accessories elements

Sorry(((19502178217

87084800121957736598hi , http://ecarswiki.com/ How to repair car wiki , http://ecarswiki.com/article,62,honda-pressure-washers Honda pressure washers , and also visit page
http://ecarswiki.com/article,50,2008-honda-civic 2008 honda civic , we have ;( many links.. http://ecarswiki.com/article,3,honda-element-accessories elements

Sorry(((55561957762

92745090607275345195hi , http://ecarswiki.com/ How to repair car wiki , http://ecarswiki.com/article,62,honda-pressure-washers Honda pressure washers , and also visit page
http://ecarswiki.com/article,50,2008-honda-civic 2008 honda civic , we have ;( many links.. http://ecarswiki.com/article,3,honda-element-accessories elements

cialis

Intersting Topic

I love to discuss more about this

Coach Backpack - Coach Wristlet

Viagra

DxWhLdpG Viagra :-O Cialis 1809

Hi. Can i offer you FREE IPAD?964386256042

70127459955392175530Hey! Free Ipad Here: asdasda

Hi. Can i offer you FREE IPAD?87489046514

3989749734489176139Hey! Free Ipad Here: asdasda

Venture Capitalist India

I like this concept. I visited your blog for the first time and became your fan. Keep posting as I am going to read it everyday.
Venture Capitalist India

Nylon Rope

Definitely a great post. Hats off to you! The information that you have provided is very helpful.
Nylon Rope

Image Consultant

Just wanted to grant you a shout from the valley of the sun, great information. Much appreciated.
Image Consultant

Italia

Premiere di tutto, mi permetta di mangiare in esclusiva due trattamenti per la depilazione figura virile che sono state approvate dal contenuto Stati Uniti e l'amministrazione di trattamento. È un vasodilatatore, che è l'ingrediente vitale nella penna Rogaine, e l'altro è finasteride, che è l'alimento primario in propecia e acquisto proscar. Entrambi i composti rivelato mortale costo effettivo per l'inversione della perdita tomentum, ma il nuovo materiale viene spesso a uno.

seo

nice info. Seo Services Seo

good blog. web

Buy Viagra

WcoBeL Buy Viagra 1838 Cialis waPoMX

Hi. Can i offer you FREE IPAD?149519995792

33831167326656549410Hey! Free Ipad Here: asdasda

Hi. Can i offer you FREE IPAD?72274936463

73028245300833291480Hey! Free Ipad Here: asdasda

Hi. Can i offer you FREE IPAD?771836676830

45393035643951745136Hey! Free Ipad Here: asdasda