"Recent submissions to the Romanow Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada warn that trade deals such as the draft FTAA threaten Medicare," says Joe Gunn, Vice-Chair of KAIROS - Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives. "Given that Canadians strongly believe in equity and compassion - the principles that underlie universal Medicare, we are extremely concerned about these implications."

"When it comes to the FTAA, the federal government should stop, look and listen," said Hassan Yussuff, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress. "It's time to make a sharp U-turn. The rules that are being negotiated, behind closed doors, could lead to more privatization of health care delivery - costing us all more money. The federal government has no mandate to put our health care services on the international market."

Thousands of people, from across the Americas, have converged in Quito, Ecuador, site of the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the FTAA. Today they join in mass protest against the FTAA. In Canada, and around the Americas, other mobilizations are taking place, including student protests as part of the Student Hemispheric Day of Action Against the FTAA.

According to Gerry Barr, President-CEO of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation, "under the draft FTAA, access to affordable generic medicine will be increasingly limited throughout the hemisphere, leaving health systems and citizens more dependent on paying for costly name- brands."

Under NAFTA, the Canadian government has paid millions in compensation to foreign corporations who claim that their profits have been curbed by public policies. "The draft FTAA threatens to exacerbate this trend", says Maude Barlow, National Chairperson for the Council of Canadians.

In countries throughout the Americas, citizens are organizing public consultations on the draft FTAA. In Brazil, over 10 million people voted in an unofficial plebiscite - and 98% rejected the proposed FTAA. In Canada, Common Frontiers encourages Canadian citizens to have their voices heard and sign onto our national petition - which calls on the government to stop the proposed FTAA negotiations, look at the negative impacts of existing trade agreements, and listen to Canadians' concerns and their support for alternative approaches.

Common Frontiers is a national, multi-sectoral working group comprised of labour, human rights, environmental, church, anti-poverty, development, student, health and social justice organizations. Our diverse members have united to confront the adverse impacts of economic globalization in the Americas - and to define broadly-based, alternative development model.

-30-

For further information: Karyn Keenan, Common Frontiers, (416) 569-5491; Katia Gianneschi, CCIC, (613) 241-7007 ext. 311; Guy Caron, Council of Canadians, (613) 233-4487 ext. 234; Jean Wolff, Canadian Labour Congress, (613) 798-6040