[PEN-L:9452] RE: Liberals, NDP harmonize positions on NAFTA

["Bove, Roger E." <rbove@xxxxxxxxx>]

     Can anyone explain why this message came through with =20 at the end on
every line and =C9 for is? It only happens rarely and must be some sort of
translation problem.
                              Roger
 ----------
From: pen-l
>Subject: [PEN-L:9444] Liberals, NDP harmonize positions on NAFTA
Date: Thursday, April 10, 1997 4:56PM

The Ottawa Citizen                                      Thursday 10 April
1997 =20
=20
CHR=C9TIEN CALLS  FOR GLOBAL FREE TRADE =20
=20
        PM explains radical conversion=20
=20
        Julian Beltrame, The Ottawa Citizen=20
=20
=20
WASHINGTON -- Prime Minister Jean Chr=E9tien gave his most detailed =20
explanation to date of his conversion from free trade critic to unabashed=
 =20
enthusiast yesterday in a free-wheeling discussion of philosophy and poli=
cies =20
that will shape his upcoming re-election bid.=20
        Speaking to about 800 people at the National Press Club, Mr.
Chr=E9tien =
=20
appeared to be road-testing many of the themes he will flesh out in the =20
campaign he is expected to launch soon.=20
        "I was skeptical like many others about the free trade agreement,
=20
(particularly) when it was a bilateral one with America. We're afraid of =
you =20
guys, you're big and we're small," he said.=20
        But the North American Free Trade Agreement has brought massive =20
economic benefits for both Canada and the U.S., he said, adding that glob=
al =20
free trade will be the engine of economic growth.=20
        Mr. Chr=E9tien pointed out that two-way trade between Canada and the
=20
U.S. increased 45 per cent during the past four years and many Canadian f=
irms =20
have become competitive world-wide as a result of the opportunities creat=
ed =20
by the global economy.=20
        "Of course, there is some disruption. Some factories were affected
in
=20
my own district. It's inevitable, but at the same time others have replac=
ed =20
them," he continued. "Some go and some come, but the best survive and you=
 =20
become more competitive."=20
        Mr. Chr=E9tien's comments here appeared designed to anticipate
attacks =20
from Conservative Leader Jean Charest that he and the Liberal party once =
=20
opposed the free trade agreement with the U.S.=20
        The Tories issued a list of questions for the prime minister
yesterday i=
n =20
which Mr. Chr=E9tien's flip-flop on the issue is called "opportunistic," =
though a =20
"good thing."=20
        Mr. Chr=E9tien told his Washington audience that his trade missions
to =20
Asia taught him to be confident that Canadians will prosper as the countr=
y =20
moves to expand its trading relations in Latin America and the Asia-Pacif=
ic.=20
        "I'm not pessimistic about the 21st century because you have one
billion=
 =20
200 million people in China and =8A they will develop a middle class; the=
y will =20
need to buy all sorts of products and both you and I will be there sellin=
g.=20
        "We (Canada) can sell them North American technology even in =20
French."=20
        Mr. Chr=E9tien said establishing trade and political links with
Asian
=20
countries is the biggest challenge facing Canada and the U.S. He noted th=
at =20
already five of Canada's 10 largest trading partners are in Asia.=20
        Mr. Chr=E9tien also had assurances for the 600,000 anglophones
living
in=
 =20
Quebec, urging them not to abandon the province in fear, saying their rig=
hts =20
will be protected by the federal government.=20
        "Quebec is their province and they should stay there," he said. "We
will=
 =20
use the Canadian Constitution to protect their rights."=20
        He said the majority of Quebecers will continue to reject the
separatist=
 =20
option if they are asked a direct question -- "Do you want to separate fr=
om =20
Canada?"=20
        Under the guise of underlining the differences between Canada and
the
=20
U.S., the prime minister bragged that Canada had gone from having the wor=
st =20
fiscal record next to Italy prior to his coming to office, to the best wi=
th a =20
deficit of less than two per cent of gross domestic product. Canada would=
 have =20
a budget balance in 1998-99 fiscal year if it calculated deficits like th=
e U.S., he =20
said.=20
        But the critical test for governments are what they do with the
freed-up=
 =20
funds that once went to debt servicing, he stressed.=20
        "I believe that governments in Western countries will be judged not
only=
 =20
on their ability to get their fiscal house in order, but also on the prio=
rities they =20
choose once they have fiscal room to act."=20
        He said his government's priorities are alleviating child poverty,
=20
allocating resources to research and development and infrastructure to cr=
eate =20
jobs, and modernizing "our cherished public health-care system."=20
        Asked to comment on his friendly relationship with U.S. President
Bill =20
Clinton in view of his charge that former prime minister Brian Mulroney w=
as =20
too cozy with past U.S. president's, Chretien gave short shrift to the =20
suggestion.=20
        "Good and not cozy," he responded. "Good and not cozy."=20
        And in an effort to draw a sharp line of distinction between Canada
and =
=20
the U.S., the prime minister challenged U.S. politicians who continually =
bad-=20
mouth the United Nations.=20
        "I will take the UN in Montreal tomorrow," he said, pointing out the
=20
world body brings more economic benefits to its home base New York than =20
the $1.4 billion in back dues the U.S. Congress refuses pay. The remark d=
rew =20
wide applause and laughter.=20
=09
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

The Vancouver Sun                       Thursday, April 10, 1997

NDP POISED TO ALTER POSITION ON NAFTA

        Peter O'Neil, Sun Ottawa Bureau

OTTAWA --The federal New Democratic Party is on the threshold of=20
abandoning its long-held policy that the North American Free Trade=20
Agreement should be scrapped, sources say.

The party's election platform committee will unveil proposal Friday that=20
include a more moderate position on Canada-U.S. free trade than was taken=
 in=20
the 1988 and 1993 election campaigns.  Instead of fighting to kill the de=
al, the=20
proposals would have the party call for changes to protect workers, the=20
environment and social programs.

"We support international trade agreements that benefit Canadian families=
 and=20
not just corporations," one party official said.

"This may be viewed as a shift as it is not outright opposition to the=20
agreements."

The proposals say the party should fight for forceful labor and environme=
ntal=20
standards, stricter measures to prevent corporate tax evasion, and new co=
ntrols=20
to limit speculative currency trading.

Delegates to the convention will have the opportunity to debate and chang=
e the=20
document before it becomes NDP leader Alexa McDonough's campaign=20
blueprint, but the new position reflects the views of NDP stalwarts such =
as=20
Dave Barrett, the former B.C. premier and ex-federal MP who championed=20
the anti-free trade campaign.  He has now accepted that NAFTA is here to=20
stay, and is devoting time as an academic to propose progressive changes =
to=20
trade deals.

Party officials expect spirited debate over trade as well as the party's =
policy on=20
the goods and services tax.

While many prominent party members have advocated an "axe the tax"=20
position, the platform committee is calling for a go-slow approach that w=
ould=20
begin by phasing out the tax for books, magazines and family essentials l=
ike=20
clothing.

Another major shift in party thinking reflected in the proposals is its m=
odes,=20
survival-oriented tone.  The party says it will play an advocacy role in =
fighting=20
for its policies, rather than suggest it could implement is promises  as =
an=20
elected NDP government.

Former federal leader Ed Broadbent campaigned in 1988 on the basis that t=
he=20
NDP was fighting to form a government, as did his successor Audrey=20
McLaughlin -- whose war cry was "AM for PM" -- in the disastrous 1993=20
campaign.

But McDonough, who doesn't have a seat in Parliament and has a caucus of=20
only nine MPs, is campaigning only to gain at least 12 seats (required to=
 be an=20
official party in the Commons).  At best, the party hopes for slightly mo=
re than=20
the record of 44.

The party's campaign will therefore focus on pockets of strength in B.C.,=
 the=20
Prairies, parts of Ontario and in McDonough's home province of Nova Scoti=
a.

Friday's platform will reflect the focus on regions like B.C., highlighti=
ng=20
positions such as the demand that government "refuse to allow giant=20
corporations to dominate the fishing industry" to the detriment of small =
coastal=20
communities.

The platform document also suggests the NDP advocate:

 --      An excess corporate profit tax that will generate $400 million
annuall=
y for=20
a national investment bank that lends to Canadian companies to promote=20
community economic development;

 --      A Community Reinvestment Act that obliges deposit-taking
institutions
=
to=20
reinvest money in the communities where they are located, as is done in t=
he=20
U.S.

 --      A reversal of liberal cuts to health care and post-secondary
education=
,=20
expanded AIDS research, the replacement of Canada's drug patent law, and=20
an expansion of Medicare to cover pharmacare

 --      A full-employment strategy that sets specific targets and requires
the=
=20
government and the Bank of Canada to make job creation their top priority.