[Wamvan] FW: [ Jun 28th & 29th ] Stopping Free Trade Zones in BC; Information sessions in Vancouver and Ladner

[Tami Starlight]

**



[ please post widely ]





*STOPPING DELTA PORT FREE TRADE ZONE*

*Public Presentation & Discussion*



In Vancouver:



*Tuesday, June 28th @ 7:00 pm*

*Vancouver Community College*

*Downtown Campus, corner of Dunsmuir & Hamilton St.*

*Room 420 (take elevators to 4th floor) *



In Delta (Ladner):



*Wednesday, June 29th @ 7:00 pm*

*Ladner Pioneer Library*

*4683 51st Street*





In February of 2011 the BC Government released a request for proposals to
conduct a feasibility study for a British Columbia Foreign Trade Zone
Program.  While "Foreign Trade Zones" (FTZ) will be explored across the
province, a specific proposal is being developed within the Pacific Gateway
Strategy that has pushed for port and highway expansion from Delta Port
throughout the lower mainland.



"Foreign Trade Zones" are also referred to around the world as Free Trade
Zones or Special Economic Zones.  They section off land to create the ideal
investment climate for industry and business.  In other words, allowing
corporations to establish their own standards and laws within a specified
zone avoiding any public influence over such things as social and
environmental policy.  Though "Foreign Trade Zones" have existed since the
1970s, mostly as duty free zones, their recent proliferation has established
investment environments going beyond what corporations have secured in Free
Trade Agreements.  The federal conservative government has committed to
examining the the current policies to make them "internationally
competitive".  These zones attempt to establish:



- 100% foreign ownership

- 0% corporate taxes

- the removal of employment standards

- expansion of temporary labour programs

- removal of environmental standards



Finally, the proposal in Delta raises more questions about the sale of BC
Rail, the Agricultural Land Reserve in Delta, the Tsawwassen Treaty process,
the Gateway Highway & port expansion and the next phase of struggle against
globalization/colonization.



Join us in Vancouver or Delta for a short presentation and discussion about
what is being proposed, what has already happened and what we can do to stop
it.
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