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Tories storm out of meeting on sharing energy with U.S
canada,com ^ | May 11, 2007 | Kelly Patterson

Posted on 05/11/2007 6:31:26 AM PDT by hedgetrimmer

Amid heated charges of a coverup, Tory MPs on Thursday abruptly shut down parliamentary hearings on a controversial plan to further integrate Canada and the U.S.

The firestorm erupted within minutes of testimony by University of Alberta professor Gordon Laxer that Canadians will be left "to freeze in the dark" if the government forges ahead with plans to integrate energy supplies across North America.

He was testifying on behalf of the Alberta-based Parkland Institute about concerns about the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), a 2005 accord by the U.S., Canada and Mexico to streamline economic and security rules across the continent. The deal, which calls North American "energy security" a priority, commits Canada to ensuring American energy supplies even though Canada itself - unlike most industrialized nations - has no national plan or reserves to protect its own supplies, he argued.

At that point, Tory MP Leon Benoit, chair of the Commons Standing Committee on International Trade which was holding the SPP hearings, ordered Laxer to halt his testimony, saying it was not relevant.

Opposition MPs called for, and won, a vote to overrule Benoit's ruling.

Benoit then threw down his pen, declaring, "This meeting is adjourned," and stormed out, followed by three of the panel's four Conservative members.

The remaining members voted to finish the meeting, with the Liberal vice-chair presiding.

Benoit's actions are virtually unprecedented, observers say; at press time, parliamentary procedure experts still hadn't figured out whether he had the right to adjourn the meeting unilaterally. Benoit did not respond to calls for comment.

It's "reckless and irresponsible" of the government not to discuss protecting Canada's energy supply, says Laxer.

Atlantic Canada and Quebec already have to import 90 per cent of their supply - 45 per cent of it from potentially unstable sources such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Algeria, Laxer said.

Meanwhile, Canada is exporting 63 per cent of its oil and 56 per cent of its gas production, mostly to the U.S., he says.

"It's shocking the extent to which the Conservative party will go to cover up information about the SPP," says NDP MP Peter Julian, who also sits on the committee.

Other MPs raised concerns about recently revealed plans under the SPP to raise Canadian limits on pesticide residues to match American rules.

Questions were also raised about whether the effort will open the door to bulk water exports.

Representatives from the departments of Industry and International Trade defended the SPP as an effort to protect Canadian jobs in a competitive global market, without sacrificing standards.

They denied charges SPP negotiations have been secretive, saying civil-society groups are welcome to offer their input, and referred MPs to the government website, which lays out in general terms the SPP initiatives.


TOPICS: Canada; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Mexico
KEYWORDS: cuespookymusic; energy; freetrade; naturalgas; nau; oil; sovereignty; spp
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To: thackney

Ethanol would be a waste, even if it could be produced from petroleum (lower gas mileage, can’t transport by pipeline, can’t ignite by itself at low temperatures, and so on).


61 posted on 05/11/2007 10:33:46 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (G*d bless and heal Virginia Tech!)
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To: Badeye

The NAU is a piece of bad fiction. The arrogance of the SPP bureaucrats is not.


62 posted on 05/11/2007 10:37:39 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (G*d bless and heal Virginia Tech!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

“The NAU is a piece of bad fiction. The arrogance of the SPP bureaucrats is not.”

100% agreement here.
I’ve often thought the NAU stuff was a direct result of one of Clive Cussler’s lesser known novels called ‘Night Probe’.

The heart of that Dirk Pitt ‘daring do’ was a long lost treaty between the United States and Canada, of which one copy of the signed treaty was thought to be on a train that had gone off a bridge a hundred years ago.

Fun read, but ever since it was published in the 1980’s this NAU stuff has started popping up, especially on the fringe political websites.


63 posted on 05/11/2007 10:40:49 AM PDT by Badeye (If you can't take a response, don't post in an open forum is my advice.)
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To: colorado tanker
Canada has huge surpluses of energy and is a big net exporter. The idea that Canada will be "left in the dark" is just nuts.

That may be so, but no country should be mandated by some international nitwit bureaucrat to send part of its energy supply to another country.

64 posted on 05/11/2007 10:40:53 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (G*d bless and heal Virginia Tech!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
I hope we can import the ethanol, as long as there absolutely HAS to be an ethanol scam imposed on America. Our home-grown corn should be used for feeding people.

Ethanol is stemming out of a demand for us to produce even a miniscule of energy domestically. If we could get them to drill somewhere in the US, ethanaol demand would vaporize.

65 posted on 05/11/2007 10:46:15 AM PDT by kerryusama04 (John 19:31)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
but no country should be mandated by some international nitwit bureaucrat to send part of its energy supply to another country

And just who do you think is doing that - or even could do that?

66 posted on 05/11/2007 10:47:40 AM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: colorado tanker

The SPP bureaucrats. I don’t believe in the NAU stuff, by the way. The SPP, on the other hand, is quite real.


67 posted on 05/11/2007 10:58:23 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (G*d bless and heal Virginia Tech!)
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To: Badeye

Sorry, I’ve noted a coorelation between the NAU ranters, and the 9/11 Bush Knew crowd, and the WTC Building 7 kooks.

No thanks. I live in the real world.

//////////////
this is laughable. you’re a troll.


68 posted on 05/11/2007 11:01:12 AM PDT by ckilmer
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To: ckilmer

Really? Gee, then I’m the longest surviving ‘troll’ in FR history....(chuckle)


69 posted on 05/11/2007 11:02:17 AM PDT by Badeye (If you can't take a response, don't post in an open forum is my advice.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks; colorado tanker; Badeye
Among the factors these conspiracy freaks don't appreciate and/or willfully ignore:

Unlike Stateside, where you've got xenophobic moonbats coming at you from both ends of your political spectrum, in Canada virtually all of their 'ultra-nationalist' fellow travelers - like Laxer above & Mel Hurtig, Maude Barlow et al - are long-time, well known, hard left extremists.

While in the U.S. 'patriotism' & 'nationalism' are pretty much interchangeable terms and/or one & the same thing, up here they're not and the latter is largely a socialist euphemism for anti-Americanism.

Canadian conservatives - other than a few old-time pro-British 'monarchists' who've yet to do us the favor of dying-off - tend to be very USA-friendly & display a 'patriotism' more or less limited to taking pride in our history & cultural traditions & cheering on their 'home team' during international sporting events.

Canadian FReepers are unabashedly pro-American (both herein & at home) and, accordingly, find outright bashing of Canada & all Canadians as well as the thinly veiled sort evident on threads like this one incredibly offensive.
70 posted on 05/11/2007 11:14:02 AM PDT by GMMAC (Discover Canada governed by Conservatives: www.CanadianAlly.com)
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To: GMMAC

“Canadian FReepers are unabashedly pro-American (both herein & at home) and, accordingly, find outright bashing of Canada & all Canadians as well as the thinly veiled sort evident on threads like this one incredibly offensive.”

I sit on a council in my industry with several Canadian’s, and they express embarrassment at the anti American stuff thats come out from their elected officials on a routine basis.


71 posted on 05/11/2007 11:18:20 AM PDT by Badeye (If you can't take a response, don't post in an open forum is my advice.)
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To: GMMAC
Well, I hope you don’t think my posts bashed Canada. I’m a Canadaphile, even though I wasn’t too fond of the unmourned Liberal government. I still have a soft spot for the old flag with the Union Jack in it.
72 posted on 05/11/2007 11:19:21 AM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: GMMAC

I have no intention of bashing Canada and Canadians, just the unconstitutional SPP. I don’t believe in the NAU stuff.


73 posted on 05/11/2007 12:18:07 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (G*d bless and heal Virginia Tech!)
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To: Badeye
"... embarrassment at the anti American stuff thats come out from their elected officials on a routine basis ..."

ahem ... past tense please:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

74 posted on 05/11/2007 6:01:53 PM PDT by GMMAC (Discover Canada governed by Conservatives: www.CanadianAlly.com)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks; colorado tanker; Badeye; fanfan
I don't consider any of you anything but good FRiends - merely thought I'd 'preach to the choir' a bit when it comes to the distaste all Kanuckistani FRrepers have for both moonbat conspiracy theories & being lumped in with Mexicans.

I'm also sick of - as well as find downright Trollish - threads initiated by a one trick pony poster which habitually & shamelessly cite the dregs of Canada's ultra-nationalist lunatic fringe, like Laxer above, as supposed - snort !!! - friends of America.

Conservative MP's rightly walked out on this moonbattery ???
Good! I'm now kissing my CPC membership card in proper gratitude!

75 posted on 05/11/2007 6:20:36 PM PDT by GMMAC (Discover Canada governed by Conservatives: www.CanadianAlly.com)
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To: GMMAC

I remember the first 24 hours after 9/11.


76 posted on 05/14/2007 5:46:05 AM PDT by Badeye (Stop lying, Sally)
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To: Badeye; Tolerance Sucks Rocks; colorado tanker; 1rudeboy; Candor7; fanfan
Thanks for remembering & you're more than welcome.

Also publicly recalling that, for well over 150 years now, there's never been a single instance where EITHER nation failed to come to the other's aid in time of domestic tragedy and/or catastrophe and, as well, that members of the Military from both have been awarded the other's highest bravery/gallantry commendations on numerous occasions never fails to knot the panties FR's moronic xenophobic minority while rightly earning appropriate cross-border gratitude.
77 posted on 05/14/2007 9:26:29 AM PDT by GMMAC (Discover Canada governed by Conservatives: www.CanadianAlly.com)
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To: GMMAC

“Also publicly recalling that, for well over 150 years now, there’s never been a single instance where EITHER nation failed to come to the other’s aid in time of domestic tragedy and/or catastrophe and, as well, that members of the Military from both have been awarded the other’s highest bravery/gallantry commendations on numerous occasions never fails to knot the panties FR’s moronic xenophobic minority while rightly earning appropriate cross-border gratitude.”

As I recall it, there was a ‘problem’ the first couple of days, a reason Powell didn’t acknowledge the Canadian government in the immediate aftermath.

You have to admit the government at that moment was in fact anti American, anti Bush. The snarky/ugly/profane comments that dribbled out during that time frame remain...well, snarky/ugly and profane.

I don’t for an instant believe those comments reflected the average Canadian, btw, far from it.


78 posted on 05/14/2007 9:30:25 AM PDT by Badeye (You know its a kook site when they ban the word 'kook')
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To: Badeye
While readily acknowledging the sort of comments you refer to from time to time from various elements with both the Chretien & Martin Liberal regimes, I don't recall any in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

Especially, with two dozen of our own citizens murdered in the WTC - not to mention numerous other victims with family & friendship ties to Canada - and massive pro-American rallies taking place all across the nation, commies with any brains whatsoever on both sides of the border STFU at least temporarily.

Further and in a more general sense, the left's anti-Americanism is deemed so nationally embarrassing as well as self-evidently detrimental to both cross-border goodwill & trade it tends to really rally the Conservative base up here:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Personally, rather than rely on RINO Powell, I'll go with the more trustworthy recollections of U.S. Navy Captain (Retired) David E. Meadows who was actually at the Pentagon on 9/11 when it comes to adjudging Canada's 9/11 response.
Thank you, Captain Meadows and God Bless America!

79 posted on 05/14/2007 10:47:52 AM PDT by GMMAC (Discover Canada governed by Conservatives: www.CanadianAlly.com)
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To: GMMAC

No disputing the embarrassment from the leftwing rants led to the new beginning in Canada we see today. And its not worth addressing the comments and or ‘slights’ noted that first week after 9/11.

I like Canadians.


80 posted on 05/14/2007 10:54:17 AM PDT by Badeye (You know its a kook site when they ban the word 'kook')
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