Canadian Prime Minister Urged to Protect Jobs, Wages & Human Rights

As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with business executives, politicians and others to discuss economic ties between the U.S. and Canada in February 2018, fair trade advocates representing a coalition of California-based labor, environmental and human rights organizations gathered outside events in San Francisco and Simi Valley to urge the Prime Minister to prioritize the addition of strong labor and environmental standards to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

“After six major rounds of NAFTA negotiations, the Trump administration still hasn’t agreed to the tough labor and environmental provisions needed to protect jobs in the U.S. and Canada, to protect human rights in Mexico and to raise wages continent-wide. Working families throughout North America need Prime Minister Trudeau to stay true to his pledge to fight for these issues in any NAFTA replacement,” said Will Wiltschko, director of the California Trade Justice Coalition.

NAFTA is currently being renegotiated between the United States, Canada and Mexico, and was expected to be a major subject during Trudeau’s multi-city visit to the United States.

Activists held signs reading “Progressive Trade Means Labor & Environmental Rights,” “ISDS Is A Corporate Power Grab” and “Prime Minister: Put People Over Profits.”

Replace NAFTA protesters were also present outside a Trudeau event at the University of Chicago earlier in the week.

The actions received coverage in Canadian media and were highlighted on social media by Parliamentarians.

Chicago:

San Francisco:

Simi Valley: