Excerpt from the Council of Canadians Trade BLOG: Provincial trade, climate agendas explored at ‘Unsustainable Compromises’ event in Winnipeg by Stuart Trew from Thursday, August 5th, 2010
“As the provincial and territorial premiers discussed economic recovery,green jobs and water management, the Council of Canadians, Canadian Community Economic Development Network, and Equiterre explored wherethe ambitions of the Council of the Federation run up against the premiers’ desires to finish a comprehensive free trade agreement with the European Union.
Brendan Reimer of CCEDNet gave what should be mandatory training for municipal and provincial politicians on the value of public spending. He opened his presentation by asking us to think back to the Olympics in Whistler, to the podiums used for handing out medials. They were built by social enterprises in depressed parts of Vancouver, and organizers paid a small premium. But there are ripple effects to that kind of spending. Give it to a multinational and the money goes one way. Give it to a local social enterprise and it goes toward strengthening the community.”
click here for the full article. (link no longer available)