Over the summer a few of us from the Occupy Movement decided to start up a No To CETA campaign.  We prepared a video, gave ourselves a name  (Citizens Against CETA), set up a blog page and formed a partnership with the Council of Canadians.  Read more in this article published by The Independent. 

On October 3rd, at 7:30 in the Oak room at the Lantern, we, along with the local chapter of the Council of Canadians, are holding a meeting for their members and any concerned citizens wishing to get involved or learn more.  The purpose is to look at strategies to get the message out, both to the public and the politicians.

Watch the informational video HERE.

Read more about the problematic implication of Investors Rights (and the precedents that have been set under NAFTA) for CETA.

The federal government is hoping to have the deal signed by the end of the year so there is a real sense of urgency. We hope to see you at the meeting. Your expertise and ideas are needed. 

It is rare to hear a Canadian politician speak about tax increases in non-apologetic tones, so it was refreshing to read federal NDP leadership candidate Brian Topp's policy paper Bringing Balance and Fairness to Canada's Tax System.  His proposal responds to many concerns expressed by the Occupy movement, with tax increases focussed on the 1%.

The specifics include:

A basic income is an income unconditionally granted to all citizens, without means testing or work requirements. Basic income programs have several advantages over alternative social security programs, such as providing greater security, requiring less administration, and presenting fewer perverse incentives. Advocates for basic income have included Martin Luther King, Bertrand Russell, Milton Friedman, George McGovern and John Kenneth Galbraith. In Canada, basic incomes have the support of the Green Party of Canada, Conservative Senator Hugh Segal, and was recommended by the Trudeau appointed MacDonald Commission.


Basic income guarantees often take the form of either a citizen's dividend or a negative income tax, which we now describe.

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a proposed free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union. It has had very little media attention or public debate - most Canadians have never heard of it. However, its far-reaching agreements, once passed, will be nearly impossible to amend or back out of. This is why more public debate and discussion is essential, yet the CETA negotiations have been happening behind closed doors with corporations at the helm.

From Robinhoodtax.ca :