The TPP and Canada: Playing the Fool
They have not heeded our calls to be transparent about what the
negotiating framework is and what they are prepared to sacrifice. Andrew Thompson, NDP candidate, Toronto, Sep 26, 2015
The very fact that Stephen Harper is still in with a chance come the Canadian election is a summary of political survival and grand
deception. The recent debates have seen him come back from the dead and
showing signs of considerable life. His treatment of the Syrian refugee
situation has proven miserly and calculating. Like his counterparts in
the Commonwealth (Australia, and the UK), taking in refugees is a matter
of a few spaces rather to satisfy temporary moral outrage. The hope is
that consciences will be salved, allowing for the general business of
government to go on.
Military action against the “source problem”, however, is far more
valued, despite the obvious consequence that any military measure,
rather than solving a refugee crisis, actually boosts it. Not that
Harper is willing to answer too many questions about that fact, having
stipulated to journalists that he will only take four a day on the
campaign trail.
