Alaska is in your back yard, so threaten to abduct Sarah Palin if the Americans don't start behaving.

Or actually, OFFER to abduct her if they do start behaving. That might go over better.

lot of reading I don't have time for.
Exactly how is it Obama reneging on the freetrade agreement?

As far as I know, he doesn't make a majority of the rules or decisions.

As dictated by the agreement, the main purposes of the Canadian-United States Free Trade Agreement are as follows:

"eliminate barriers to trade in goods and services between Canada and the United States;"

"facilitate conditions of fair competition within the free-trade area established by the Agreement"

"significantly liberalize conditions for investment within that free-trade area"

"establish effective procedures for the joint administration of the Agreement and the resolution of disputes"

Obama's decision to have a buy American clause which clearly states that any businesses being helped by the US Government and any Government projects must use only American made products. This clearly violates the whole fair competition, it also sets up trade barriers between Canada and the US in direct violation of the free trade agreement.

Anyway you look at it, free trade is supposed to be free trade. its supposed to encourage trading partners to send products to each other and do business with each other. The US creating a protectionist policy that costs their trade partners billions and violates their agreements can't possibly be seen as a good thing.

Also your right Obama doesn't make all the decisions. However this job plan is his plan, he presented it he supported it and he is the main spokesman for it. He was also the guy who presented and supported the first violation of the free trade agreement in 2009. If you honestly don't think the President is aware of what is in his own bill, then maybe he shouldn't be president.

People like you make me glad I don't live anywhere near the US.

Protectionism is retarded, and a throwback to 1930's thinking which helped cause the depression.

Look at Smoot-Hawley. It was supposed to benefit our economy, but trade is a two way street. It is very rare that a country can do something to promote domestic production and discourage foreign purchasing. Most of the time, when tariffs are used, they are reciprocated which means that less goods are exported, too.

Be pissed at our government. Not us.

Very stupid indeed, but it's sort of silly for people to suggest Canada can just ditch US trade. 70% of your exports go to us, and there is no way you're just going to be able to make that up on other countries. Both will need to work something out. 

Also, protectionism did indeed contribute a lot to the Great Depression, and this is easily the dumbest thing Obama has done in office (he has done some pretty good things too, mind you). 

Obama needs to shore up the union vote in a climate where good jobs are going to hell. (Well all jobs, but i mean, union jobs espiecally.)

A lot of the Union Democrats are Social Conservatives who only vote republican because the democrats are supposed to care about things made in America, fighting their bosses and protecting American jobs.

With things as they are, he could lose them... and unlike a liberal's vote... a Union democrats vote might go to Romney, making it a "Double" loss.

It's the same reason why Obama keeps talking about how congress needs to immediatly pass free trade bills that he hasn't even submitted to congress.

It's Obama putting on a big show for Ohio and the othern Northern swing states, like he did during the democratic primaries when he promised to "Revoke NAFTA until it works for America."

Which he then did a complete 180 on once he had their primary votes.

Yah keep in mind it was the NDP that tabled the motion in 2009, not the ruling party and at the time they weren't even the official opposition. I think the move was supposed to send America a message but obviously Obama wasn't paying attention. Note that our Prime Minister hasn't suggested anything like this.

However the threat should still be seen as serious, since the NDP is now the official opposition in Canada. Canada hasn't been improving trade with China and such in favor of US trade for awhile now. Sure Canada couldn't completely ditch the United States but if we shifted trade deals and focused more on Asia and Europe the US would suffer greatly. Canadian trade could slowly diminish and that would only hurt America.

The question is if the NDP get elected as Government next election would they follow through on Jack Layton's threat? Obama should be concerned at the fact that his biggest trading partners Government is even thinking these kids of things. Honestly I hope Obama comes to his senses and removes the protectionist measures from his bill before it hurts trade relations any more!

No offense to Canada but why the hell would the United states sign something where they have to let foreign country's trade and sell stuff as if they were an American business? Sorry i just don't see the point.