This 5 day conference brought together over 1000 delegates from social movements opposing the FTAA from nearly every country in the Americas. Interestingly the countries most represented were Canada, the U.S., and Mexico – those which are not only relatively affluent and close to Cuba geographically, but which are currently feeling the negative effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). A number of very informative panels were held which revealed all of the various social, economic, environmental, and political aspects of the FTAA and the attack that these represent on the people of the Americas, and where the negotiations are at today. There were also several workshops dealing with a number of specific issues allowing more time for discussion, exchange, and proposals for common action. And there was a 4 hour marathon speech (although this was actually short for him) by Fidel Castro touching on everything from the situation with the US embargo, to the war on terror, to the election of leftist presidents in Latin America such as Chavez in Venezuela and Lula in Brazil, to his days in the jungle with Che, to the demonstrations in Seattle and Quebec, to the bay of pigs invasion!
The CFSQ representatives were part of a delegation of Quebec youth that numbered about 20. There were also a handful of youth delegates from Ontario and Western Canada. This strong showing from the Quebec student movement was well received by delegates we met during the conference. The CFSQ had the chance to talk with many people about the work we have done this year, Including the Pan-Canadian student forum in August, the Solidarity Network to Stop the FTAA, the Day of Student Action and Strike Oct. 31st, and more. Many delegates had heard not only of the big demos in Quebec City April 2001, but also of our recent mobilization on the 31st of October. In talking to people it was quite clear that news of our demo had even reached those who attended the protests in Quito! This was really good to know. Those who had not heard of these events were very excited and supportive of the educational and solidarity work being done at the student level in Quebec, and Canada.
Throughout the meeting, the Quebec Youth delegation really made its presence felt. The very first day we called for a meeting of the entire Canadian delegation (of roughly 100 people) to exchange information and discuss proposals for action that we could bring forward and support in the closing plenary. Some of the groups present were: Structured Movement Against Capitalism (SMAC); Quebec youth delegation; York and Toronto University student reps; ATAQ Montreal, Canada-Cuba Solidarity Network; Communist Party of Canada, and CPCML Youth; Common Frontiers; various unions such as Nurses, and Steel Workers; Canadian Network on Cuba; International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS); Council of Canadians; Canadian Labour Congress and more.
Three main ideas came out of the several meetings we squeezed in over the lunch breaks:
1) Planning a North American Social Forum on the topic of the FTAA.
2) Public Consultations on the FTAA: (work already started in various countries in the Americas)
In Quebec, the Reseau du Quebec contre l’Integration Continentale (RQIC – a roundtable of the big unions CSN, FTQ, Quebec Women’s Federation, Alternatives, and the Feuq) is planning to hold an informal referendum or ‘consulta’ in Quebec on the question of the FTAA, similar to the one that was held in Brazil, and the ones that will be held in several other Latin American countries, beginning this January, and finishing in April. The CFSQ is going to request a participatory position in the RQIC as the role of the student movement in making this referendum a success in Quebec is crucial.
3) Hemispheric Day of Action and Strike.
These three proposals have now been taken back to Canada to be discussed and concretized. This process will continue in Mexico and in Porto Allegre at the world social forum this January. The Canadian delegates’ contact information has been recorded and any initiatives, actions, or ideas can be communicated to a diverse group of people.
Another place where the Quebec youth delegation really made its presence felt was in the Youth and Student Workshops. We did a lot of great networking, particularly with our comrades from the English or French speaking Caribbean nations. They were really excited to see our materials, as they are just now in the process of starting to create such materials themselves. We also carved out for ourselves a crucial role to play in attempting to coordinate the hemispheric resistance to the FTAA. We proposed to the entire youth delegation that our SNSF website be used as a central place to share and exchange information and to plan and implement strategies of common action. This proposal was endorsed by the room. This means we will need to call some sort of meeting of the SNSF to proceed. At this point, there would be some logic in seeking a budget (from a variety of sources) for the site so that the maintenance and translation of the site can be taken seriously by paid staff.
Also of value were the descriptions from members of social movements throughput the Americas that gave a picture of what the issue are for people resisting the FTAA in different countries, and their perspectives on the FTAA. We learned of the range of issues facing students in other countries – often in situations of much greater urgency than those of Canadian Students – and their strategies of resistance to the implementation of neo-liberal agendas in their societies.
The conference finished with a final declaration and a call to action for a common day of mobilization against the FTAA to coincide with the opening of the WTO meeting in Cancun Sep 10th 2003. Finally some dates:
(Quebec organizers - rqic.alternatives.ca/RQIC-eng.htm)
(Canada - Common Frontiers)