Hydro Quebec, and health, education and cultural industries will be protected from US companies attempting to force their way into Quebec under the draft accord, Le Devoir reported this morning. Presumably, similar exemptions have been negotiated for other provinces.
This is some comfort to Canadian observers who have been fighting against the idea of "deep integration," that is the near-merging of the the two countries for trade purposes. The changes this could mean for what we have been accustomed to think of Canadian values has been clear. Already under existing trade agreements, Dow has been able to contest Quebec's ban on pesticides. The case, begun in 2008, is apparently before an arbitration panel, but the amount of trouble, money and energy needed to defend a progressive environmental policy is enoughtto make other governments think twice before embarking on similar plans--and for Quebec to waffle about standards under the pressure.
To be followed closely.
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