I belong to a list-serv, Alternatives North. I received an email on Monday in regards to BIG PHARMA trying to use the Canada-European Union Free Trade Agreement to get rights that will expand their patent rights and increase drug prices!
So here is the gist of it--- you can see the full article on the National Union of Public and General Employees....
THIS IS GOING TO DRIVE UP OUR HEALTH CARE COSTS AND - FOR US AND OUR NATIONAL SYSTEM! We are talking BILLIONS of dollars people!
The BIG PHARMA are going this route because they know with our current Minority Government, they won't succeed with Canada's Parliament.
And low and behold- two provinces- Quebec and Alberta have already written to the federal government asking them to support the BIG PHARMA demands! What did I say yesterday about big corporations buying our government?
Drug companies are making BILLIONS of dollars in profit. And not taxed much either- in Alberta 10%!
Right now they can get 20 years of patent protection before a generic company can make the same drug at a more affordable price- and- they can extend it 2 more years if they want to squash a generic company. They just have to CLAIM that the generic company is infringing the patent! No proof required.
So here are four things they want, but can't have from the Canadian Gov't but can from the European Union:
- The Right to Infringement turned down- want more free competition time.
- Extension of the patent protection to however long it takes to get the new drug approved in the market.
- Data protection- keep ingredients secret for up to 10 years even if the ingredients do not need patent protection.
- Seizure of drug shipments if the drug company decides the shipment violates a patent right.
What does it mean for you? Delay access to cheaper, more affordable drugs
"...They want the trade deal to cancel the right of Canadians to have a say in how the drug industry operates.....Our governments need to stand up for the right of Canadians- and for their own right to make democratic decisions. They need to tell the drug companies that they can't go to Europe to get through the back door what would never be agreed to in an open debate in Canada." says Larry Brown, NUPGE Secretary Treasurer.
A public rally has been scheduled for Friday October 29, 2010
to demand Harper halt the negotiations.
What can you do? Call or email your MP- tell them this is not acceptable!
******************Lets look at one of these companies....Pfizer...they had total revenues in 2009 of $50.1 BILLION dollars. (Wikipedia)
and ....
CEO of Pfizer in 2008, Jeffrey B. Kindler earned a total compensation of $14,788,302, which included a base salary of $1,575,000, a cash bonus of $3,000,000, stocks granted of $7,553,015, and options granted of $2,222,026.[3]
This is more than the total budget for North Bay, Ontario, Canada! Our City has 55,000 people!
I mean, come on! Why does he need to make $15 million dollars? What does Pfizer manufacture? According to their 2009 Financial Statements they made a profit of $8 Billion! After tax which I wonder if they really paid...
Well, divide 15 million into 8 Billion- how many years do you think their profits would pay for even our City Budget???
How much money do you need? What about balance! I am not against profit...I am against things like ...
"Canada Regains Tims Bragging Rights- Edmonton Journal, Sept 23, 2009. Canada Will have the Lowest Corporate tax rate in the G7 by 2012"
Really, I mean Really???? Our Canada Pension plan is gone, Employment Insurance is a joke, Poverty is at its all time high, we have a 49.2 billion dollar deficit.. our Health Care system is eroding..... Your plan is not working Mr Harper! Get the other countries together and unite- even the playing field! You want a world economy? Offer a universal corporate tax rate!
I think Gail Vax-Oxlade needs to meet with you Mr. Harper and your Finance Minister. I think she put our, my money! into glass jars and cut up your signature stamp!
It is starting people- take notice, take a stand!
Love and all good things!
The Peaceful Matriarch
On October 15, 2010, I travelled to Ottawa, Ontario.
In the evening I attended a fund raising event at the beautiful Dominion-Chalmers United Church hosted by Canada Without Poverty- Poverty and Punchlines. Steve Patterson, host, Don Kelly and Mary Walsh - great Canadian comedic talent- raised the laughter high into the beautiful dome roof.
Ed Broadbent graced the stage and talked about the need for a National Housing program. But the icing on the cake was the Poor No More Documentary clip shown by Mary Walsh. We all needed tissue to wipe away the tears- not from laughter this time. The 2010 Poor No More Documentary looks at Canada, Ireland and Sweden's poverty and the working poor.
Most of what was in this film did not surprise me as I sat on the board of Canada Without Poverty for 6 years (NAPO when I was on the Board). I had the privilege of going to the United Nations in Geneva to speak, along with many Non-Government Organizations, to the United Nations Committee on Economic Social & Cultural Rights (2006) hearings,
What did shock me was the story on the LCBO- Liquor Control Board of Ontario- owned by the Ontario Government. SHOCKING! The salaries and bonuses are absolutely ridiculous! Our tax dollars being given to the few at the top while the workers are so poorly paid.
But, do you as the average Canadian, the average world traveller...are you aware of the GREAT RACE TO THE BOTTOM? The race for all the countries on our planet to offer their countries up on a silver platter to CORPORATIONS? How? What? Yes, some countries are racing as fast as they can to bring the big money, wealth to their countries by lowering the Corporate taxes. Big Corporations buying our countries via our politicians! The consequences of the BIG RACE- poverty rates in Canada are at an all time high! Check out the Fact Sheet on the Poor No More Documentary website to find out more about poverty in Canada.
Corporate tax rate for 2010 in Ireland- 12.5%
Corporate tax rate for 2010 in Canada- 18%- down from 19% in 2009! Corporate tax rate for 2010 in Sweden- 26.3%
Now, these are companies recording BILLIONS of dollars in profit.
Personal marginal tax on $55,000 in Canada is 31.15% so the government collects approx $10,734 from you if you live in Ontario.
I took a quick look at Bell Canada. You need to be an accountant to understand their financial statements, but it appears to me that they made almost $16 billion dollars in 2009 and did not pay a cent in taxes! And they paid out dividends!
Their tax bill, if they had paid the 31.15% in taxes would be $310,500 million dollars! Can you just Imagine??? I wonder how many of their employees made over $200,000 a year and how many make less than $50,000.
Even Warren Buffet- a multi billionaire says the rich are taxed too little.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLD0p1QpcI8
It is TIME to wake up and take notice ! Take ACTION! Do you really accept this?
The world is a changing place. These old systems, old way of doing things- they no longer work. They served their purpose...it is time ... get educated...this is very personal- it is about you, me and everyone else on this planet! How can you make a change? Ask questions, talk, VOTE!
Love and all good things!
The Peaceful Matriarch
I opened “Woman Unlimited” with a story about my father’s mother. With Mother’s Day coming up one can’t help but think of all the strong matriarchal women who have influenced our lives.
My Grandma Slade is a mystery to me. I have, like, short film clips of memory about her. My Grandmother was adopted when she was a young girl. Her siblings were sent to different homes. She did not find her siblings until later in life. I do not believe she ever met her real mother. The Depression created such hardship for families.
I remember being in her old house as a young girl. In the back yard was a very cool garage with hidden panels. I remember the smell- that musty, wonderful smell that only old garages and four square homes can have.She drove a VW bug- I know where I got my bug for VW from!
I am 5 years old, sitting on her lap, crying my heart out because I was teased at school about looking like an (native) Indian. She hugged me and told me to tell them my grandmother was an Indian princess. I was still telling people about her royalty in College! They believed me of course. I like to think my dark looks came from her.
I have memories of going to cut her grass in Ashton, Ontario. I would cut the grass with a hand mower. After I was finished, she would walk me down to the Ashton General store (which is still there today) to get a chocolate bar. It was sticky hot and the flies dived bombed us but I did not care- I was with my grandma and I was going to have chocolate!
I loved her house because it was so cool! Dirt for a basement; “diner” booth in the kitchen…. We once watched lightning lick between the kitchen faucet and the stove during one nasty storm! My brother and I would sit in the booth while my parents sat in the dining room. I would move the peas off my plate to my brother’s plate when no one was looking. I watched with fascination as my youngest aunt would iron her long, very purple hair in the kitchen. It was the 60’s after all.
My grandparents got divorced. I have no memory of this other than it just seemed like one Christmas – my cousins and I all got the same dresses- grandpa and grandma being there together- laughing and making it all a wonderful time. Then somehow, they were not together anymore. My grandpa moved to the USA. He was casualty of the defunct Arrow project. My grandma was alone again.
I knew my grandma was very sad. As a child I could feel her sadness. She died when I was 10- the same day as my Nana Clark, 5 years apart. Both women had been adopted. Goosebumps-right, you have goosebumps- I do!
As a mother, about to turn 50, I think of how hard her life must have been. I have tried to find out more about her but no one can tell me. I think it is very sad that we can not have more of who she was in our lives. Happy Mother’s day Grandma Slade! Let your children know who you are.
Love and All Good Things,
The Peaceful Matriarch
