Canadian Press
Published: Saturday, June 10, 2006


SAINT JOHN, N.B. (CP) - A conference in New Brunswick to discuss a proposed free-trade zone for the East Coast of North America was met with protests on Saturday for the second day in a row.

The peaceful protest came a day after a rowdy shoving match erupted outside a Saint John conference centre, prompting police to arrest three people.

On Saturday, about 400 people - including labour unions, members of political parties, environmentalists and women's activists - gathered for a rally inside a local hockey rink before marching through the city's streets.

The protesters are opposed to the idea of creating an economic zone known as Atlantica, which would include the Maritimes, Quebec and New England.

Supporters say the proposed arrangement would reduce trade barriers and create closer ties between Canada and the United States.

But opponents worry Atlantica would give corporations too much control, and complain that they aren't being consulted.

"We don't think they have a monopoly on the ideas. We think we have a lot of input that's of value, and we just want to be part of the process," Ron Oldfield of the Saint John District Labour Council said.

Critics have also worried that Atlantica would see the U.S. economy swallow up Canadian identity, and that it could diminish the ability of Canadian governments to control policies such as the minimum wage.

© The Canadian Press 2006

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=db924c3f-da1f-4db5-bed9-eaebf9984364&k=63278

What do you think? Is the Atlantica concept a new course for our region or a recipe for economic failure(more so)

From the Atlantica website:

"Atlantica: the International Northeast Economic Region (AINER) is defined chiefly by geography, economic trends and trade patterns; common problems and experiences; and politics. Much of this wedge of territory has been outside the charmed circle of North American prosperity for years.

The reasons are buried deep in our history. Especially after the Americans rejected Reciprocity and Confederation was born, the continent was divided into two national projects. Each sought to open up its half of the continent on an east-west axis. Each had a funnel on the East Coast (Montreal and New York respectively) that caught the energies of Europe and channelled them toward the conquest of the continent. Atlantica was bypassed.

But now, continental free trade and globalization could put an end to the isolation of Atlantica. The east-west axis for development of North America is being supplemented by a drive to stitch back together the old north-south trade routes that had flourished across the continent before 1867."

http://www.atlantica.org/

The protesters are opposed to the idea of creating an economic zone known as Atlantica, which would include the Maritimes, Quebec and New England.

According to the map, most of Quebec isn't actually included. Montreal and QC r both just across the river from the region. It would be pretty strange for an economic strategy like this to be split between two areas of the same province, and I doubt Quebec would suppourt it, seeing as it would take business away from its own major ports of Mont, QC, and Sept-Iles.

http://www.atlantica.org/images/i_home_2.jpg

Businesswise it is a great idea and has been going on informally to a certain extent. Kenneth Irving certainly knows that by his family's business spanning from Newfoundland to upstate New York. The problems that company have encountered with the number of Gas Stations in Maine restricted unless irving was to construct a refinery in Maine itself.It is funny because I am sure there are no refineries in maine for sunoco, exxon or Bp. Sable Offshore gas is flowing thru maine to new england and our advantages in this relationship are that we dont have the case action lawsuits by enrivonmential groups halting progress on this side of the boarder where as the united states is the opposite. LNG terminal projects in our region are a product of the sierra club and others opposing them in the united states with litigation. Esenatada Mexico is benefiting from the environmentail lawsuits as Sempra gas and other are setting up an LNG terminal there. For all the fearmongering about our health care system being eroided with free trade and relations with the states are wrong. It is actually our health care system that accounts for an economic advantage for our manufacturing sector. This is why we have an automobile manufacturing sector that seems sheltered from downsizing for the big three in the united states while the united states plants get cut.
Foriegn auto manufacturers seem to see this too.

Of course there are downsided to everything but considering the same type of people where predicting the end of canada with free trade agreements and our economy going north instead of south I would not place much stock in labour union propaganda or other left wing interests.

jim jones

Oddly they say New England is included, but for some reason the non-Atlantic bordering part of New York is included, yet Massachusetts is not. What's up with that? I don't see any real reason for Quebec to be in this agreement as its larger ports are excluded.

Hopefully it will help the economy throughout the zone, but the choice of boundries is questionable.

Apparently Upsate NY is included because someone considers Buffalo to be essential to the plan, although I don't remember why lol.

Oddly they say New England is included, but for some reason the non-Atlantic bordering part of New York is included, yet Massachusetts is not. What's up with that? I don't see any real reason for Quebec to be in this agreement as its larger ports are excluded.

Hopefully it will help the economy throughout the zone, but the choice of boundries is questionable.
I believe it is because Boston is a large city that has really no economic problems like the Atlantic/Northern New England has. Upstate New York is included because it also shares the same economic story as the rest of the Atlantica region - it is part of the wedge area between the Quebec-Windsor zone and the Eastern Coast Metropoli.

http://www.atlantica.org/media/images/border_formalities.jpg

http://www.atlantica.org/media/images/main_street.jpg

I believe it is because Boston is a large city that has really no economic problems like the Atlantic/Northern New England has. Upstate New York is included because it also shares the same economic story as the rest of the Atlantica region - it is part of the wedge area between the Quebec-Windsor zone and the Eastern Coast Metropoli.

http://www.atlantica.org/media/images/border_formalities.jpg

http://www.atlantica.org/media/images/main_street.jpg

so what is the same economy problems upstate New Yorks share with Maine and Atlantic Canada? Rochester is worldwide headquarters of Kodak I beleive.
Syracuse as state capital certainly is not hurting. I believe that map is about the footpriint of the Irving paper empire as they have atleast a mill in upstate New York. This also seems like an attempt to link the martimes with more direct route to southern ontario.

Jim jones

so what is the same economy problems upstate New Yorks share with Maine and Atlantic Canada? Rochester is worldwide headquarters of Kodak I beleive.
Syracuse as state capital certainly is not hurting. I believe that map is about the footpriint of the Irving paper empire as they have atleast a mill in upstate New York. This also seems like an attempt to link the martimes with more direct route to southern ontario.

Jim jones

Syracuse isnt the state capital, Albany is lol. Not like it really makes a difference though, their both upstate.

Syracuse isnt the state capital, Albany is lol. Not like it really makes a difference though, their both upstate.

Yah you got me there HEy non wonder Syracuse is in trouble they moved the state government on me LOLOLOLO. Syracuse of course is famous for the university, the carrier dome, and the state fair.

jim jones

so what is the same economy problems upstate New Yorks share with Maine and Atlantic Canada? Rochester is worldwide headquarters of Kodak I beleive.
Syracuse as state capital certainly is not hurting. I believe that map is about the footpriint of the Irving paper empire as they have atleast a mill in upstate New York. This also seems like an attempt to link the martimes with more direct route to southern ontario.

Jim jones
Don't ask me! I am just the messanger. lol

I dont see a problem with a direct route to Southern Ontario, but i think it is more geared towards the mid-west of America.

Don't ask me! I am just the messanger. lol

I dont see a problem with a direct route to Southern Ontario, but i think it is more geared towards the mid-west of America.

Well logically you would want both of course. Southern Ontario we are of course tied to more IE sobeys stores and even irving is started to push into that area.A more driect route brings the costs down.
With the midwest you want to be there as it is so much big for an economy then ontario. Basically get to both those areas with the same route would be beneficial.

jim jones