The COUNCIL of CANADIANS

93 Sixth St., New Wesminster, B.C. V3L 2Z8 + (604) 525-4765, 525-4785 +» Fax: 525-2593

May 13, 1993

The Honourable Leonard Traboulay
Mayor of Port Coquitlam

City Hall

2580 Shaughnessy Street

Porn Coquitlam, BC

V3C 2A8

Dear Mr. Traboulay:

One of the most critical issues facing all Canadians is the proposed North American
Free Trade Agreement. The legislation to enact this treaty is now before the House of
Commons in committee stage. The government nas announced that it is their
expectation that it will become law before the end of June 1993. The date for the
agreement to come into force is January 1, 1994.

| am writing to request that the Port Coquitlam Council grant us time on a future
agenda to make a presentation to you. We believe that there are a number of
features of NAFTA which have severe implications for municipal governments
throughout the country. In particular, these relate to the provision of provincial
government services; the certification, professional ethics and scope of practice of all
licensed professionals employed by municipalities; federal funding for social programs
such as unemployment insurance which have a direct bearing on municipal
expenditures; and the migration of industries from municipalities across the country to
low wage areas in the United States and Mexico. The Council of Canadians does not
believe that any level of government will be unaffected by NAFTA. Further, we are
certain that the citizens of every community in the country will be adversely affected.
It is for these two reasons that we are asking for permission to make a presentation to
your Council.

On Monday, May 10, following a presentation from the Council of Canadians the
Richmond Council unanimously adopted a motion to ask the federal government to
delay the vote on NAFTA until the citizens of Richmond had the opportunity to
participate in a full discussion on the agreernent. | would ask that your Counsil
consider adepting a similar motion.

The Council of Canadians is not a political party. It is an organization of more than
25,000 individual Canadians who are pledged to defend Canadian sovereignty. We
see the adoption of NAFTA as perhaps the most single serious threat to Canadian
sovereignty in our history.

TAKE BACK the NATION

1993 - Our Last Chance to Save Canada a