In the debate about what constitutes fact I am struck that comments by the Colombian Minister of Trade are so easily accepted as fact. The Minister claims that trade unionism is on the rise in Colombia. But the Colombian Trade Minister's claim that union rates have increased by 76% is simply not correct. Credible sources from the Colombian labour movement assert that union labour market share has decreased by 4.7%.

Michelle Collins from Embassy Magazine, published this article addressing Prime Minister Harper´s rhetoric on overcoming protectionism, which he used as the main argument in favour of the CCFTA. The motivation for this statement is political, rather than economic. Quoting several speakers of interest groups, the argument for protectionism from Canada towards the US, rather than pursuing the rhetoric against it with regards to a minor and not very useful partner (Colombia) appears as a priority. The strategy of Global Capital to face the crisis seems to be implementing protectionist measures among the big economic powers, while imposing anti-protectionist action on the poorest counterparts to extract their wealth and resources, under the cover of maintaining anti-protectionst, pro "free trade" rhetoric for all. Please read the full text:

In my question/answer about the Canada Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), I cited a report by the International Crisis Group (ICG), an organization that has a board with people like George Soros, Kofi Annan, Richard Armitage, Louise Arbour, Shlomo Ben-Ami, Lakhdar Brahimi, and Ernesto Zedillo on it - not exactly raging radicals, in other words. The ICG report I cited is called "The Virtuous Twins: Protecting Human Rights and Improving Security in Colombia." The passage I cited recommended that the international community condition arms sales to Colombia on respect for human rights. Its strongest stance was reserved for the Colombian government's practice of attacking human rights activists as terrorists:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is rolling out the red carpet. For whom? Please see attachment.

By Peter Julian M.P.

Marston arranges for testimony in alternate committee

OTTAWA – New Democrat Human Rights Critic Wayne Marston had to facilitate the testimony of renowned human rights activist Yessika Hoya Morales after she was turned away from the International Trade Committee, even though its membership had indicated it was interested in hearing her speak.

By Angelica Quesada and Micheál Ó Tuathail for MINGAS-FTA

At this point of the ratification process of the Canada-Colombia free trade agreement, there are at least two indisputable facts, regardless of one’s position on the deal.

Written by Jennifer Moore
Published in Upside Down World
20 May, 2009

Coming from Canada - the world's principal source of financing for global mining activities – Robert Lovelace, a leader from the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation in Eastern Ontario, says his experiences in the Andean nation reveal that indigenous communities in both countries “share a heck of a lot in common.”

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On March 26, Stephen Harper's conservative government tabled the text of the Canada-Colombia FTA and introduced implementing legislation in Parliament. From this date, Canadian legislators have 21 sitting days to debate the agreement's ratification.