Dow sues Canada over pesticide rules

NAFTA is an even rawer deal than most folks realize.

Not only does it include obvious aspects that harm workers directly. It also attempts to gut the entire concept of federalism and dismantle government powers to regulate Big Business.

Quebec has tough regulations on pesticides, especially for residential use. As a result, the Canadian federal government is now facing a lawsuit by Dow AgroSciences (a division of Dow Chemical), which makes a common weed killer.

Dow cites the hated chapter 11 of NAFTA, and is demanding $2,000,000 in damages. Chapter 11 lets corporations sue governments over regulations affecting their products - and collect damages for it.

This part of NAFTA is long known for preventing states and provinces from taking action against irresponsible corporations. When Massachusetts passed a law prohibiting state agencies from buying from companies that did business with bad regimes, these companies sued in federal court. Naturally, the right-wing court sided with these gloBULL greed merchants and struck down the Massachusetts law.

Although conservatives claimed to be champions of states' rights, they gutted Massachusetts's right to have a selective purchasing law. What's the point in even dividing the country into states if the states can't even pass their own laws?

Sorry, conservos, but the Constitution gives Massachusetts this power. The Constitution can't be trumped by any treaty or agreement like NAFTA.

NAFTA's chapter 11 does nothing but enable the corporate totalitarian mentality to grow.

I can't speak for Canada, but I certainly think it's time for the United States to leave NAFTA.

(Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090409.wdow0409/BNStory/National/home)