The American notion of Manifest Destiny: the belief (or doctrine) that it is the destiny of the United States to expand its territory over the whole of North America, and to extend and enhance its political, social, and economic influences. The FTA and NAFTA were never about trade. They were about the ongoing quest for American Manifest Destiny. According to Industry Canada's own statistics, Canada has lost over 14,000 companies to foreign owners- some 60 companies per month for 20 years. No other developed country has, or would have, allowed this to happen. The chart says it all.

Even though a company may remain in Canada, control over management decisions, purchasing choices, database and payroll revert to the new foreign owner. Research and Development will likely be done outside of Canada. Worse, through Transfer Pricing (excessive advertising, consulting,, or other 'fees') profits exit Canada, thus reducing Canada's revenues and tax base.

As mentioned earlier, dysfunctional monetary policies have been a primary cause for Canada's funding difficulties. The free trade agreements have been a primary cause for the loss of resources, business ventures, and Canada's manufacturing base.

THROUGHOUT THE 80s AND INTO THE 90s, The Dream of Canada began to noticeably fade... Living standards and expectations fell. The centralization of wealth and information increased. The minimum and low-income base broadened, and middle class prospects began to decline... And then came the 1995 Federal Budget...