Brent Patterson
Brent Patterson is the Political Director at the Council of Canadians. He works with the Council's chairperson Maude Barlow, its campaigners, organizers and chapters across the country on trade, energy, water, and health care issues. The Council has political staff in Ottawa, Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Halifax, Delhi, Durban and Mexico City.
Articles by this author
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Views Wednesday, February 21, 2018 Canadian Company Threatens NAFTA Investor-State Challenge Over Washington State Legislation Against Fish Farms Washington is moving to ban fish farms in state waters, but the North American Free Trade Agreement could stand in its way. The Canadian Press reports, "The Washington state senate and house of representatives have recently passed bills that would phase out net-pen farms when their leases come up... Read more |
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Views Sunday, November 26, 2017 Will Trump's Telecom Deregulation & NAFTA Talks Undermine Net Neutrality in Canada? The renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) poses a threat to net neutrality in Canada. The Toronto Star reports, "U.S. telecom regulators have confirmed plans to roll back Obama-era rules designed to protect net neutrality." In response, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains... Read more |
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Views Sunday, July 16, 2017 Will Mexico sign on to the energy proportionality provision in NAFTA? This past April U.S. President Donald Trump made comments about Canadian energy exports in relation to the upcoming renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) set to begin next month. On April 20, Trump said, "We can't let Canada or anybody else take advantage and do what they... Read more |
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Views Sunday, January 01, 2017 Canada-China FTA Talks to Begin in February 2017 Could Have Massive Implications on Water Use The Trudeau government says talks toward a Canada-China Free Trade Agreement could begin as early as February 2017. CBC reports, "International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland says Canada is tentatively booked to begin talks with China in February as the two countries explore a free trade... Read more |
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Views Monday, May 23, 2016 Trudeau Government Faces Crucial Decisions in Coming Months The Trudeau government faces a number of key decisions in the latter half of 2016. Their current level of public support is undeniable. A Forum Research Inc. poll conducted earlier this month found that 48 per cent of Canadians think the country is moving in "the right direction". The poll also... Read more |
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Views Wednesday, March 09, 2016 The Public Won't Be Served at Obama's State Dinner for Trudeau What can we expect out of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's two-day visit to Washington, DC this week? First of all, this is what isn't likely to be on the agenda: a shared commitment to a 100 per cent clean energy economy by 2050, including a ban on fracking and on exploration for fossil fuels in... Read more |
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Views Monday, February 29, 2016 UN Says the TPP Threatens Indigenous Rights The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for Indigenous Rights Victoria Tauli-Corpuz says the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) threatens Indigenous land rights. Telesur reports , "The Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, better known as the TPP, seriously threatens indigenous land rights, as well... Read more |
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Views Monday, November 09, 2015 Trudeau Government Backs Energy East, Supports Tar Sands Expansion On the same day that US President Barack Obama rejected the proposed 830,000 barrel per day Keystone XL pipeline, highlighting that approving the pipeline would undermine efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came out in support of the... Read more |
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Views Tuesday, October 20, 2015 The Council of Canadians is Prepared to Push the New Liberal Government on Key Campaign Areas More than a year ago the Council of Canadians set twin objectives for this federal election: to get out the vote and to defeat the Harper government. Both were accomplished last night. More than 17.5 million people, about 68 per cent of all eligible voters, cast a ballot in this election. That's a... Read more |
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Views Monday, June 08, 2015 Will the Climate Justice Movement "Seattle" the Paris Talks? While the New York Times editorial board says , "The Paris [climate summit] may well be the world’s last, best chance to get a grip on a problem that, absent urgent action over the next decade, could spin out of control", most are already bracing for another massive failure by the political elite... Read more |