174 Forward Avenue

Ottawa ON K1Y 1L2

Wednesday, August 6, 2014


Letters to the Editor
c/o Ottawa Citizen
1101 Baxter Road
Box 5020
Ottawa ON K2C 3M4

To the Editor,

Here I am writing yet another letter-to-the-editor despite knowing full well that it will be ignored no
matter how good it is, like my last letter of July 5, 2014. Regardless: re this newpapers (unsigned, as
always) editorial of August 6, 2014 it concludes like this:

The Conservatives are not going to shake their skepticism of the
United Nations, idealism or soft power. They are selective about the
institutions and causes theyll join. But they are searching for their
own ways to increase Canadas influence. The question is whether
they can succeed.

I personally wouldnt say the Harper Tories are skeptical of the UN Id say that to the Harper
Tories, the UN appears to be a disparate unrelated power centre which is unconnected to the Harper
Tories in any useful fashion. For useful, read money-making. As for idealism, its true the
Harper Tories are hardcore pragmatists, interested only in amassing power, influence, and wealth for
themselves. Re soft power as Ive already stated, the Harper Tories are only interested in what
profits them best them, not Canada. In this light, then, its easy to see why they will not espouse,
heed, or listen to any advice other than that of their own private sources.

This newspapers editorial claims the Harper Tories are searching for their own ways to increase
Canadas influence. I see. I suppose thats why the text of their newest trade deal CETA is
completely secret, unavailable to the public, because it is one of their own ways to increase
Canadas influence and not in any way belonging to Canada. As for the question then being
whether they can succeed, I beg to differ. The question is actually who are the Harper Tories
really trying to benefit, other than themselves?

MIT Professor Noam Chomsky says of CETA, TPP, FIPA, and similar deals: Its called free trade,
but thats just a joke. These are highly protectionist measures designed to undermine freedom
of trade and in fact much of whats leaked about TPP indicates its not really about trade at all,
its investor rights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPIsjH25GHo

Read it and weep.

Yours sincerely,
Rolf Auer