UPDATED  February 15, 2007

Federation's Press Release From Atlantica Myths and Reality Launch Press Conference

Charlottetown, PEI - Today, the PEI Federation of Labour would like to stand in full support of the well-documented study "Atlantica: Myths and Reality". We feel that the findings in this publication "should be a wake-up call for Premier Binns and the governments of the three other Atlantic provinces.
 
The study "Atlantica: Myths and Reality" by Scott Sinclair was done for and is published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), following a request from the labour movement for an objective and comprehensive study of the Atlantica proposal.
 
Atlantica which is conceived by big business circles and fiercely promoted by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS), would create an integrated cross-border economic region that encompasses the four Atlantic provinces of Canada, a piece of Quebec, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and a large swath of northern New York State all the way to Buffalo. In that region of "business without boundaries," according to the proponents, "the removal of barriers and harmonization of regulations" will provide corporations with more privileges than those they already enjoy with NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement).
 
The primary focus of this proposal is not strengthening trade within this cross-border region. Instead, proponents aim to convince Atlantic Canadians that the road to economic prosperity lies in the region becoming a conduit for Asian goods destined for the American heartland and in accelerating energy exports to the north-eastern U.S.
 
The proposal also states that:
•    minimum wages are too high on both sides of the border.
•    the percentage of union workers is too high and its better to increase the number of unprotected workers.
•    all governments are too big and they are a deadweight that burdens the private economy
 
The Federation feels that the pipe dreams of creating a massive Asian goods corridor, deregulation, privatization, restriction of basic workers right, and ignorance of Atlantic Canada's own energy needs that make up the backbone of this proposal will have a deeply negative impact on PEI and its citizens.

Rather than the flawed and unrealistic Atlantica proposal, the PEI Federation of Labour would urge the Atlantic Provincial governments to consider the alternatives that Scott Sinclair suggests in his study. Which are to:
 
1.    increase intra-Canadian trade and diversify Atlantic Canadian trade to other international markets, Europe for example. The Halifax port is closer to Europe than Asia. This port should also be looking at handling more traffic destined to and from Canadian markets. We should also be looking to improve our rail infrastructure and use our roads less often to transport goods.

2.    Develop a  long-term energy policy for Atlantic Canada that conserves non-renewable resources and uses them wisely in a transition to safe, renewable forms of energy. In an era where we are seeing more and more the negative  impact that we are having on our environment, it would be more profitable and sustainable to look at ways that we can work with our American neighbours to decrease carbon and greenhouse gas emissions rather than moving ahead with a proposal like Atlantica that will only increase them.
 
As you can see in Mr Sinclair’s study, the proponents of Atlantica are trying to distort our past, dismiss our present reality, and sellout our future all in an attempt to forward their right wing agenda.
 
"Working families should be very concerned about the Atlantica proposal because their best interests are not being considered. Atlantica is being hatched away from all public participation, input, and accountability. It is all about private interests taking over our resources and infrastructures without giving anything back to secure and promote lasting local prosperity. We can not allow them to succeed" says Carl Pursey, president of the Prince Edward Island Federation of Labour.
 
''We intend to promote the findings of this document as much as possible to our members, the public, our government and with anybody that will listen to us'' concludes Carl Pursey
 
We hope that all of our government leaders and economic decision-makers will read this study and join with us in putting a stop to all discussions on this Atlantica proposal.  Rather than waste time and resources on this proposal that wishes to give away our assets and our economic future to corporate interests, let us instead think of real ways of promoting homegrown opportunities and prosperity that will benefit all Atlantic Canadians instead of just big business interests.
 
Press Conference to Launch Atlantica Myths and Realities Study

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