(=_=)
2015-01-15 22:20:14 UTC
So much for being a partner in NAFTA, eh, Harper? Won't let NAFTA inspectors
in to take a look at the Alberta tarsands.
Now you don't want to be at a meeting with them.
No different than your being afraid of meeting with your country's premiers in
a group encounter.
You're afraid of the very people and groups that make up this country and
affect our economy.
You need to go.
___________________________________________
January 15, 2015 - http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Harper postpones Three Amigos summit with U.S. and Mexico
Prime Minister avoids meeting with U.S. and Mexican Presidents at a time when
relations with both countries are unusually prickly
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has postponed the North American leaders' summit
with U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto at a
time when relations with both leaders are chilly.
The unexpected move allows Mr. Harper to avoid an awkward side-by-side news
conference with Mr. Obama at a February summit that all three governments were
expecting would be dominated by the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline – now at
the top of the political agenda in Washington.
Instead, the Prime Minister surprised the United States and Mexico by
postponing the event, popularly dubbed the Three Amigos summit, to an
unspecified date late in the year. "We intend to proceed with the meeting later
in 2015," said Mr. Harper's communications director, Jason MacDonald.
Mr. Harper's government did not provide an explanation to either country,
instead noting that they had never officially confirmed the date in February,
sources said.
But planning was advanced for a late February summit, with the dates set aside
on the always-packed calendars of the U.S. President and his Mexican counterpart.
The Canadian Council of Chief Executive Officers, which has long been involved
in trilateral business issues, produced recommendations for the leaders last
month, noting the summit was scheduled for February.
The lack of explanation for the late change led some U.S. and Mexican officials
to ascribe it to Canadian concern about the risks of an awkward encounter with
two leaders who are at odds with Mr. Harper over Keystone and Canadian visa
requirements on Mexicans. In Ottawa, it is said summit agenda items had not
been nailed down, a hint at differences between governments.
Facing an election in October, [likely earlier] Mr. Harper has in recent
months emphasized his prime ministerial stature on the world stage – using
summits to call for action against Islamic State or to blast Russian President
Vladimir Putin for interference in Ukraine. But hosting a summit likely to
highlight disputes with powerful neighbours would be a political risk as he
prepares to go to the polls.
Putting off the meeting might also heighten speculation that Mr. Harper will
call a spring election – speculation Mr. MacDonald denies. "There will not be
an election in the spring," he said.
Traditionally, Canadian governments have wanted to ensure regular North
American summits, in part because they mean direct face time with the U.S.
President.
But Mr. Harper's relations with his North American counterparts are unusually
prickly at the moment.
Mexico has expressed displeasure that Canada continues to require its citizens
to obtain visas before visiting.
Mr. Pena Nieto publicly raised the issue at last February's summit in Toluca,
Mexico, but his government is increasingly frustrated the requirement remains
even though changes to Canada's asylum system dramatically reduced refugee
claims by Mexicans – the reason Canada cited for imposing visas. In Mexico, it
is the touchstone political issue in Canadian relations, and Mr. Pena Nieto was
expected to bring it up again in February.
The chill with Mr. Obama has included differences over items such as a new
Windsor-Detroit bridge, but the U.S. delays in deciding whether to approve
Keystone XL top the grievance list. At last year's summit, Mr. Harper pressed
the U.S. President on Keystone, and Mr. Obama rebuffed him and expressed the
need for both countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Keystone project is an even bigger political issue now. Republicans have
control of both houses in Congress and are expected to pass a bill approving
the oil pipeline as early as next week. Mr. Obama has threatened to veto it.
Attending a summit now would probably force him to defend a veto, and his
criticisms of the proposed pipeline have grown more pointed. Mr. Harper's
government has taken to describing the Keystone debate in the United States as
an argument between the President and the American people.
==================================================================
It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment
~ Ansel Adams
==================================================================
in to take a look at the Alberta tarsands.
Now you don't want to be at a meeting with them.
No different than your being afraid of meeting with your country's premiers in
a group encounter.
You're afraid of the very people and groups that make up this country and
affect our economy.
You need to go.
___________________________________________
January 15, 2015 - http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Harper postpones Three Amigos summit with U.S. and Mexico
Prime Minister avoids meeting with U.S. and Mexican Presidents at a time when
relations with both countries are unusually prickly
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has postponed the North American leaders' summit
with U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto at a
time when relations with both leaders are chilly.
The unexpected move allows Mr. Harper to avoid an awkward side-by-side news
conference with Mr. Obama at a February summit that all three governments were
expecting would be dominated by the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline – now at
the top of the political agenda in Washington.
Instead, the Prime Minister surprised the United States and Mexico by
postponing the event, popularly dubbed the Three Amigos summit, to an
unspecified date late in the year. "We intend to proceed with the meeting later
in 2015," said Mr. Harper's communications director, Jason MacDonald.
Mr. Harper's government did not provide an explanation to either country,
instead noting that they had never officially confirmed the date in February,
sources said.
But planning was advanced for a late February summit, with the dates set aside
on the always-packed calendars of the U.S. President and his Mexican counterpart.
The Canadian Council of Chief Executive Officers, which has long been involved
in trilateral business issues, produced recommendations for the leaders last
month, noting the summit was scheduled for February.
The lack of explanation for the late change led some U.S. and Mexican officials
to ascribe it to Canadian concern about the risks of an awkward encounter with
two leaders who are at odds with Mr. Harper over Keystone and Canadian visa
requirements on Mexicans. In Ottawa, it is said summit agenda items had not
been nailed down, a hint at differences between governments.
Facing an election in October, [likely earlier] Mr. Harper has in recent
months emphasized his prime ministerial stature on the world stage – using
summits to call for action against Islamic State or to blast Russian President
Vladimir Putin for interference in Ukraine. But hosting a summit likely to
highlight disputes with powerful neighbours would be a political risk as he
prepares to go to the polls.
Putting off the meeting might also heighten speculation that Mr. Harper will
call a spring election – speculation Mr. MacDonald denies. "There will not be
an election in the spring," he said.
Traditionally, Canadian governments have wanted to ensure regular North
American summits, in part because they mean direct face time with the U.S.
President.
But Mr. Harper's relations with his North American counterparts are unusually
prickly at the moment.
Mexico has expressed displeasure that Canada continues to require its citizens
to obtain visas before visiting.
Mr. Pena Nieto publicly raised the issue at last February's summit in Toluca,
Mexico, but his government is increasingly frustrated the requirement remains
even though changes to Canada's asylum system dramatically reduced refugee
claims by Mexicans – the reason Canada cited for imposing visas. In Mexico, it
is the touchstone political issue in Canadian relations, and Mr. Pena Nieto was
expected to bring it up again in February.
The chill with Mr. Obama has included differences over items such as a new
Windsor-Detroit bridge, but the U.S. delays in deciding whether to approve
Keystone XL top the grievance list. At last year's summit, Mr. Harper pressed
the U.S. President on Keystone, and Mr. Obama rebuffed him and expressed the
need for both countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Keystone project is an even bigger political issue now. Republicans have
control of both houses in Congress and are expected to pass a bill approving
the oil pipeline as early as next week. Mr. Obama has threatened to veto it.
Attending a summit now would probably force him to defend a veto, and his
criticisms of the proposed pipeline have grown more pointed. Mr. Harper's
government has taken to describing the Keystone debate in the United States as
an argument between the President and the American people.
==================================================================
It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment
~ Ansel Adams
==================================================================