2.0 Key Issues

The objective of the panels was to contribute to the overarching statement and action plan coming out of the Forum. This was done by a panel of legislative and civil society representatives working together to promote peoples' participation and trading partnerships based on dialogue, transparency and respect, and that seek greater equity in international trade.

2.1 Panel #1 - Free Trade and Security Agenda: Impact and Challenges

• Alberto Arroyo, RMALC, explained that in Canada and Mexico, the economy is being ‘de-nationalised' and he highlighted the fact that the agricultural sector of the three countries is greatly affected. The trade agreements limit the ability of duly elected officials to pass legislation within their respective parliaments. Proposal to reform these accords to emphasize human rights. All sectors must work together in order to redefine NAFTA. It is important to find ways in which parliamentarians from the three countries can work together on subjects of common interest and to increase cultural awareness.

• John Foster, North-South Institute, noted past meetings in Waco and Cancún and the upcoming March meetings. He highlighted the major elements of future discussion of further integration as being - security issues; the role of new economies; and specific tri-national strategies for the auto sector and the oil sands. He outlined the idea of forming a ‘North American Competition Council'. He stated that under the current tri-national governance model, (especially in the energy and security sectors), that ‘planning' generally involves a representative from the US telling the Canadian and Mexican representatives what the next steps will be. He highlighted that there are three ways to respond to this model - abridge NAFTA altogether; pursue sovereignty under the accord parameters; or work on an issue-by issue basis as per European Union practices.

Key issues/ideas that emerged from the first panel discussion include:

• The role of government and defense forces in quashing domestic movements organizing towards a more people-centered trade model.
• It is important to discuss the fallout of NAFTA on Latin America and the continuing mobilisation against this legislation;
• to discuss concrete strategies on how to increase knowledge of these issues amongst parliamentarians from the three countries;
• important for Canada to gain control of its energy supply;
• the need to create an energy security policy and the importance of discussing the energy proportionality clause of NAFTAs was highlighted;
• Labor standards and the need to have common standards across the three countries.
• The need to reshape integration and make it more inclusive; the allocation of development funds is integral to discussions about a progressive model of integration.
• Question about what type of legislation can be implemented to ensure more equitable relationships, in order to be effective, this legislation must address the effects of integration.
• Faith-based organizations have compiled several workable alternatives.

2.2 Panel #2 - People-Centered Trade Model: The Way Forward

• Marcy Kaptur, U.S. Congresswoman (Ohio), stated the need to be strategic in actions, to define the coalition and get the coalition's message out more clearly. She proposed the ‘caravan across North America' idea as a possible tri-national project. She highlighted the need to pass common legislation on a specific topic and a common statement of purpose. She mentioned that the cost of prescription drugs might be a shared public interest topic common to the three countries. She suggested creating a tri-national NAFTA-assessment taskforce; an intra-parliamentarian working group on continental labour strategies; and a tri-national security force to deal with US/Mexican border issues.
• Jacques Letourneau, Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), noted some of the major issues for NGOs working on integration issues - define the type of globalization that NGOs want to see; strengthen civil society networks; make public consultations more public; and strengthen external communications practices in order to get NGOs messages out more clearly and broadly.

Key issues/ideas that emerged from the second panel discussion include:

• Civil society organizations often have problems getting their message to elected representatives. There is mentions of the European Union's ‘Conseil des élus' as a possible model for civil society and elected representative meetings;
• ways of engaging public in order to increase knowledge about how trade deals directly affect communities;
• the proposal for a common legislative agenda is a good idea and needs to be expanded;
• how to increase the amount of elected parliamentarians that sympathize with the causes NGOs champion;
• mention of the ‘Alternatives for the Americas' document that many organizations use as a base for action;
• The issue of media plutocracy is highlighted.