Many of us participated at the House of Commons public consultations on an FTAA agreement the Americas. The House spoke of its evolving role in providing a forum for democratic consultation with Canadians. It is our view that the government continues to fail to listen to Canadians and to reflect our rights and interests in the positions taken at FTAA negotiations. For meaningful public consultations to be realised it is absolutely necessary that information be made publicly available on the state of FTAA negotiations. Despite the promises that these changes are good for all of us, the gap between rich and poor has become wider.
Poverty also has a stubborn presence in the Caribbean and even in the United States and Canada.
For the rest of us, it has meant more social, economic, and political exclusion. Many countries of our region are currently in economic crisis and environmental degradation is acute. Millions of small farmers have lost their livelihoods, and food security has worsened. Unemployment is growing in several countries, and there has been a decline in job security throughout the region. Our social welfare, health care, and environmental protection systems have been under attack by the proponents of privatization and liberalization.