Two weeks to go and the ball is starting to roll. I believe there could be a lot of people in Saint John for the protest. The Irvings printed a fair story about the protest. I'll paste the story in the comments section.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
PRESIDENT OF SAINT JOHN DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL RON OLDFIELD MEETS ORGANIZERS OF ATLANTICA!!!!
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NB Telegraph-Journal | Provincial News
As published on page A3 on May 24, 2006
Atlantica opponents promise big protest
The 'Reaching Atlantica' conference is slated for early next month in Saint John
By Carl Davies
Telegraph-Journal
A group opposed to the concept of "Atlantica" is promising an anti-globalization style protest with an anti-regionalization message.
Citizens Against Atlantica is vowing to make some noise in Saint John next month with a "festive yet defiant" rally against a conference in the Port City organized by the Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce and the Saint John Board of Trade.
The Reaching Atlantica conference is designed to explore ways to increase business opportunities in a region that spans from Newfoundland, through the Maritime provinces, New England and into upstate New York.
According to the conference's website, ways to achieve this include improving transportation links, removing trade barriers and harmonizing regulations throughout the region.
Sponsors include the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Bank of Montreal, Irving Oil, the Canadian Automobile Association, and others.
Citizens Against Atlantica supporter Asaf Rashid said one of the main concerns of his group is that the conference is dominated by big business.
"One of the big fears is that the rules will be determined by the largest players," Mr. Rashid said.
"These are issues that concern all people," he added.
Among the issues of concern expressed at a Citizen's Against Atlantica news conference in Fredericton Tuesday is that the people involved in the conference have little time for things such as organized labour, and minimum wage legislation.
The group lists as supporters a diverse group that is mainly left-leaning in its politics. They include the Council of Canadians, Friends of Rockwood Park, the Communist Party of Canada, the Fredericton Anti-Imperialist Committee, the Feminist Reading Group and others. The Conservation Council's David Coon was also on hand Tuesday to show support for the anti-Atlantica forces.
While business leaders such as Richard Egleton, senior vice-president and chief economist of the Bank of Montreal and Irving Oil's Kenneth Irving will be speaking at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre, a "people's conference" will be staged at the Coastal Inn Fort Howe with the Council of Canadians' Maude Barlow and other guest speakers.
Friday, the anti-Atlantica group is planning an all-day rally at the Trade and Convention Centre, followed by an "enormous" march on Saturday that Mr. Rashid said will include at least 1,000 protesters.
While Mr. Rashid promised to keep things festive, he said "we're not going to be pushed around. It should be something that people are talking about for a long time."
Jim Quigley, president of the Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday he had just heard about Citizens Against Atlantica and denied the conference was for an exclusive audience.
"It's absolutely wide open," Mr. Quigley said. "They're free to register."
Mr. Quigley added the conference had nothing to do with changing social policies and everything to do with growing the region's economy.
"Our whole goal is to improve the business climate" Mr. Quigley said, adding the main thrust of the conference was about improving transportation infrastructure and expanding trade with New Brunswick's neighbours.
"We want to increase the size of the economic pie so we can attract people to move here and convince people to stay here."
On more than one occasion at the Citizens Against Atlantica news conference on Tuesday, speakers pointed to the fact that the Irving group of companies will be well represented at the Reaching Atlantica conference and questioned the influence the company has on public policy.
Irving Oil spokesman Daniel Goodwin said the company is involved in the conference because "we support dialogue, building relationships with neighbours," and pointed out that the company's reach matches that of the Atlantica boundaries.
Mr. Goodwin said the company was "very focused on creating opportunities.
"We're just there to learn," he added.
Sean Cooper, the regional executive director of the Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce also said the premise that big business was the only voice represented at the conference was wrong.
He said that as of Tuesday, several labour organizations had already registered to take part in the conference.
Mr. Rashid said the close to $600 cost of registering was another barrier to taking part.
"We've got to cover our costs," Mr. Quigley said, adding there were no plans to introduce a cut-rate registration fee
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