Published March 29, 2010
by iris_author
Corporate profits or human rights- Which should Canada champion in Colombia?
PANEL DISCUSSION: CANADA-COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
Time: Thursday, April 8, 2010 , 2010
7–9 P.M. (doors7 -7 - 9 pm (doors open at 6.30)
Location: New Horizons Auditorium, 1140 Bloor St. West (at Dufferin)
MODERATOR: Andrew Cash, NOW columnist, Davenport NDP candidate
SPEAKERS:
Peter Julian, federal NDP Trade Critic
Jasmin Hristov, author, Blood & Capital: The Paramilitarization of Colombia
Carleen Pickard, Council of Canadians
Sid Ryan, President, Ontario Federation of Labour
Yhony Muñoz, OPSEU International Solidarity activist
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Canada is set to sign a sweeping trade deal with Colombia—our hemisphere’s most egregious human rights violators where violence against indigenous peoples, Afro-Colombians, workers, farmers and journalists is a regular occurrence. More labour leaders and human rights activists are killed in Colombia than in any other country in the world. Yet, shockingly, this free trade deal does not contain substantive conditions to protect human rights. Instead, there is one obscene clause that would have Colombia pay fines when a labour leader or human rights activist is killed by the state military or by paramilitaries tied to the government. Why is Stephen Harper’s Conservative government, with the support of some Liberal members in Parliament, pushing such a bad deal?
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS:
CAW
OPSEU
Ontario Federation of Labour
Latin American Solidarity Network
CUPE Ontario International Solidarity Committee
Council of Canadians
Posted in: Events
