“We Are All Fast-Food Workers Now” The Global Uprising Against Poverty Wages

March 11, 2018

The story of low-wage workers rising up around the world to demand respect and a living wage.

Tracing a new labor movement sparked and sustained by low-wage workers from across the globe, “We Are All Fast-Food Workers Now” is an urgent, illuminating look at globalization as seen through the eyes of workers-activists: small farmers, fast-food servers, retail workers, hotel housekeepers, home-healthcare aides, airport workers, and adjunct professors who are fighting for respect, safety, and a living wage.

With original photographs by Liz Cooke and drawing on interviews with activists in many US cities and countries around the world, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Mexico, South Africa, and the Philippines, it features stories of resistance and rebellion, as well as reflections on hope and change as it rises from the bottom up.

From: www.beacon.org

To Download, click link below:

We_Are_All_Fast-Food_Workers_Now_by_Annelise_Orlec

P.S.

This is my first post on my blog in almost two years, and I felt strongly about sharing this book, that chronicles the global fight of many low income earners for respect, safety and a living wage.

I dare you to be challenged; I dare you to confront your beliefs, your consciousness.

We are all by nature activists for ourselves, in our work, with our friends, family and in the community, in one way or another. Whether it is going for a bank loan for a new car, selling ourselves for a promotion at work, or a new job; casting our vote in a local, provincial or federal election.

I dare you to learn; I dare you to have your personal values and philosophy impacted, about a subject you may be ignorant of, know a little of or be well versed in——-because knowledge is power, and the pen is mighter than the sword——to coin two cliches.

Peace and out.

Canucks At A Glance: Nov 11, 2016

 By Andrew Chernoff November 11, 2016 Canucks At A Glance Vancouver has only scored 9 goals in 8 games, with Ryan Miller in net this season, while giving up 22 goals against. Miller is 1-7-0 in tho…

Source: Canucks At A Glance: Nov 11, 2016

Week over week Canadian consumer confidence steady after four week slide (released September 26, 2016)

Bloomberg Nanos Weekly Consumer Confidence Tracking

The latest Bloomberg Nanos Canadian Confidence survey suggests the overall week over week mood is steady after four weeks of weakening confidence.

“Although the overall week over week numbers were steady, the tracking hit a new six month low on the future strength of the Canadian economy,” said Nanos Research Group Chairman Nik Nanos.

“Consumer expectations have exhibited a six-month cycle of late, dropping sharply and recovering as each economic or political event plays out. Nonetheless, the longer-term issues that ultimately affect household balance sheets remain intact. Canada’s capacity utilization is at multi-year lows — which doesn’t argue for increased private investment any time soon — and productivity growth has slowed, which argues for more investment in intellectual capital and infrastructure”, said Bloomberg economist Robert Lawrie.

The BNCCI, a composite of a weekly measure of financial health and economic expectations, registered at 56.50 compared with last week’s 56.67. The twelve month high stands at 59.93.

The Bloomberg Nanos Pocketbook Index is based on survey responses to questions on personal finances and job security. This sub-indice was at 58.66 this week compared to 60.50 the previous week. The Bloomberg Nanos Expectations Index, based on surveys for the outlook for the economy and real estate prices, was at 54.35 this week (compared to 52.84 last week).

The average for the BNCCI since 2008 has been 56.61 with a low of 43.28 in December 2008 and a high of 62.92 in December 2009. The index has averaged 56.12 this year.

To view the weekly tracking visit our website

Methodology

The BNCCI is produced by the Nanos Research Corporation, headquartered in Canada,  which operates in Canada and the United States.

The data is based on random telephone interviews with 1,000 Canadian consumers (land- and cell-lines), using a four week rolling average of 250 respondents each week, 18 years of age and over. The random sample of 1,000 respondents may be weighted by age and gender using the latest census information for Canada and the sample is geographically stratified to be representative of Canada.

The interviews are compiled into a four week rolling average of 1,000 interviews where each week, the oldest group of 250 interviews is dropped and a new group of 250 interviews is added. The views of 1,000 respondents are compiled into a diffusion index from 0 to 100.

A score of 50 on the diffusion index indicates that positive and negative views are a wash while scores above 50 suggest net positive views, while those below 50 suggest net negative views in terms of the economic mood of Canadians.

A random telephone survey of 1,000 consumers in Canada is accurate 3.1 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20.

All references or use of this data must cite Bloomberg Nanos as the source.

Baby Boxes Aim To Reduce Cot Deaths

The baby box programme launched at University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) will provide free baby boxes for infants to sleep in.

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Jimmy Woulfe, Mid-West Correspondent

A Scandinavian baby care concept which has dramatically reduced infant mortalities such as cot deaths in Finland was introduced to Irish mothers-to-be yesterday.

Made from durable cardboard, the box can be used as a baby’s bed for the first eight months of life. The box prevents babies from rolling onto their tummies, which experts say can contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The baby boxes come with a foam mattress, waterproof mattress cover and cotton sheet.

Education material with advice from healthcare professionals on reducing risks to babies, is also included in the baby box pack.

The use of baby boxes has been credited with helping reduce infant mortality rates in Finland from 65 infant deaths per 1,000 births in 1938 to 2.26 per 1,000 births in 2015.

Ireland’s infant mortality rate is 3.7 per 1,000 births.

The concept already adapted in Britain, Canada and the US was introduced to this country yesterday at UMHL, the first Irish maternity hospital to embrace the idea.

As well as the baby boxes, new mothers will be presented with clothing and educational materials.

Dr Mendinaro Imcha, consultant gynaecologist/obstetrician UMHL, said:

“The baby box programme is a proactive approach to improving the health and safety of the newborn child and parents. We are combining tradition with current technology and supporting the newborn child’s family with online education material covering a broad range of essential topics and postnatal care.”

Margaret Gleeson, chief director of nursing and midwifery at the UL hospitals group, said up to 5,000 baby boxes will be distributed to new mothers who give birth at UMHL over the coming year.

Ms Gleeson said: “The baby boxes are a thing of beauty and there is the invaluable education element of this initiative which makes this truly patient-centre.”

Tipperary-based tattoo artist, and expectant mother, Karen Smith did the artistic designs which decorate the UMHL baby boxes.

She said: “The whole meaning behind my design is rebirth. I thought the butterfly was the perfect symbol for the baby box. It is a symbolic creature in many cultures and lends itself to all manner of colourful and fanciful adaptations, in this case our beautiful baby box.”

Jennifer Clery, chief executive of the US-based The Baby Box Co, said: “We are delighted to expand our baby box programme to Ireland and look forward to this new collaboration here in Limerick at the University Maternity Hospital. The baby box is an innovative integrated programme to support parents and improve maternal and infant healthcare outcomes globally.”

UMHL is the second largest maternity hospital in the country, outside Dublin and cares from women from Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, North Kerry, North Cork and areas of Offaly.

Source: Baby boxes aim to reduce cot deaths | Irish Examiner

Maple Leafs, Browns, Cubs, Canucks On List Of Sport’s Longest Active Title Droughts

PHOTO: The Sharks and Bulldogs celebrate during their preliminary final victories. (AAP/Getty)

By Jon Healy

September 26, 2016

This year’s AFL and NRL grand finals could play host to two drought-breaking victories.

The Western Bulldogs and Cronulla Sharkswill contest the last match of the year in their respective codes on the weekend with the chance to end decades of heartache for their fans.

The Bulldogs, or Footscray Football Club, have not only gone decades without winning a flag, but have only reached one other season decider since taking out the title in 1954.

In that 1961 fixture, Footscray jumped out to an early lead, but kicked just 2.4 (16) in the second half while Hawthorn booted 67 points to hammer them by 43.

They had one shot, one opportunity, one moment, to seize everything they ever wanted … and they let it slip.

Cronulla, meanwhile, has been in the top flight rugby league competition since 1967 and never won it all, missing out in the 1973, 1978 (via a replay) and 1997 (Super League) grand finals.

So, can one or both of these teams shake the monkey off their backs and get off this list of some of sport’s most title-hungry teams?

Chicago Cubs — No World Series win since 1908

Long-suffering fans … The Cubs faithful look on during another loss during the 2008 playoffs.(Getty Images: Jamie Squire)

Baseball might do superstition better than any other sport, and the Curse of the Billy Goat is one of its best.

The last time the Cubs reached the World Series, in 1945, Billy Sianis tried to get into game four to watch his team go around against Detroit at Wrigley Field.

Unfortunately, Sianis had with him a goat — he was the owner of the Billy Goat Tavern — and security refused to let the animal in because you cannot bring random animals to sporting events, especially those that have a reputation for eating everything in sight.

The story goes, Sianis appealed Cubs owner PK Wrigley, who also denied the goat entry, prompting Sianis to exclaim: “The Cubs ain’t gonna win no more.” And win they have not.

But, with the Cubs currently boasting the most wins in the MLB, and the Sharks and Bulldogs heading to deciders, 2016 could be the year for a hard rain to fall on some sporting droughts.

Toronto Maple Leafs — No Stanley Cup win since 1967

PHOTO: Toronto has not returned to the finals since its last title. (Getty Images: Bruce Bennett)

Think about Toronto as the NHL’s South Sydney Rabbitohs.

This hockey-mad city saw its Maple Leafs lift the Stanley Cup 13 times, but not once since 1967.

Once again, they have not even stumbled into the finals once in the interim.

Although, maybe that is for the best considering when the Vancouver Canucks, who have never won the title, lost their third finals in 2011 the city was almost burned to the ground.

Cleveland Browns — No title since 1964

PHOTO: Robert Griffin III’s injury troubles sum up the luck of the Browns in the NFL (Getty Images: Jason Miller)

Mercifully, LeBron James and the Cavaliers quenched the city of Cleveland’s thirst for a trophy by winning the 2016 NBA title, but football (and any other sporting) success still alludes ‘The Land’.

The Browns won an NFL title in 1964 but have not won or even reached the last game of the season in the Super Bowl era (since 1966).

With a miserable name like the Browns, voted by fans as an homage to former heavyweight boxing champion and Cleveland native Joe ‘The Brown Bomber’ Louis, making fun of this sorry lot is almost too easy.

Unfortunately, while some other teams on this list seem to have some upside and hope in the not too distant future, the Browns appear destined to be terrible for a while yet, having recently signed injury-prone quarter-back Robert Griffin III, who instantly got injured.

Liverpool — No League title since 1990

PHOTO: The Reds have won other trophies in the interim, but are still looking for another Premier League title.(Getty Images: Dave Thompson)

Some context is required to justify Liverpool’s spot on this list.

The streak is nowhere near as long as the others, but the Premier League is so top heavy that there really is no excuse for one of England’s most storied clubs to miss out for as long as the Reds have.

Of the 26 titles available since Liverpool’s last league win, which was its 11th in 18 seasons, 21 have gone to the other members of the ‘Big Four’ – Manchester United (13), Chelsea (4) and Arsenal (4).

Sure, Liverpool has been usurped by Manchester City in the awesome foursome but that only happened relatively recently and as the drought extends it is becoming increasingly difficult for Reds fans to keep saying their team is a major player in the league.

Source: Cronulla, Western Bulldogs looking to get off list of sport’s longest active title droughts – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

AgTech Ideas For Aussie Farming Incubator Programs

AGDRAFT AgTech is revolutionising the way Aussie farmers run their business.

Our next home-grown ideas boom.

By Andrea Beattie  Small Business Writer, HuffPost Australia

September 26, 2016

Australia is on the cusp of an agricultural technology innovation boom, with entrepreneurs urged to submit startup ideas to reinvigorate and boost our $60 billion agriculture industry.

Financial advisory and accounting services provider Findex and the National Farmers’ Federation last week announced the launch of a pre-accelerator program as part of a joint initiative called SproutX designed to collate startup ideas to nurture and commercialise the best ideas in food, fibre and agribusiness.

The $10 million accelerator fund, supported by Artesian Venture Partners, will invest in the best AgTech ideas, and is backed by $1 million in initial funding from the Victorian Government as well as industry leaders including Findex and Ruralco.

The pre-accelerator will accept 100 applicants from across the country who will be equipped with basic business skills and lean startup principles, as well as access to mentors and a strong support network.

SPROUTX General Manager of SproutX Sam Trethewey says Australia’s biggest natural advantage lies in agriculture.

“Australia’s biggest natural advantage lies in agriculture, not fintech, and we need to invest to ensure that we lead the way in developing and commercialising innovations in agtech,” General Manager of SproutX Sam Trethewey said.

“The innovation boom has had a strong focus on fintech, but movements like that are not where Australia’s natural competitive advantage lies.

“We’re still in our infancy, but it’s important to get behind the AgTech industry now and stimulate its growth. We need to connect innovators, investors and the agri-community to help bring ideas to fruition, and this pre-accelerator lays the groundwork for that.”

At the end of the six-week pre-accelerator program, graduates will receive $1000 cash and $10,000 in services to help them pursue their venture. Those that show promise will also be invited to join the full six-month accelerator program when it launches in 2017.

Budding entrepreneurs can apply to be part of the SproutX program on theirwebsite.

StartUpAus CEO Alex McCauley, with Content and Community Manager, Alex Gruszka, said technology has always played an important role in increasing Australia’s agricultural output.

Report outlines AgTech potential

A StartUpAus report called Powering Growth: Realising the Potential of AgTech for Australia threw the spotlight on AgTech naming it a critical component of the Farmers Federation goal to develop a $100 billion agricultural industry by 2030.

The report, co-authored by KPMG Australia, and supported by the Queensland Government and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), notes that the agricultural sector is already the largest employer in rural and regional communities, generates 4 per cent of Australia’s total employment, provides 93 per cent of the nation’s domestic food supply, and contributes approximately 13 per cent ($42 billion) of Australia’s export revenue.

StartUpAus CEO Alex McCauley said technology has always played an important role in increasing Australia’s agricultural output.

“We have an extremely valuable opportunity here to develop technologies that make a real difference to the economy’s bottom line, while also helping rural Australia realise the economic benefits of the digital technology revolution,” he said.

“If Australia is to realise its ambition to be the food bowl for a rapidly-growing middle class in Asia and Africa, we will need to become a leader in AgTech.”

AgTech platforms such as AgDraft are giving farmers access to a skIlled workforce when they need it.

Innovation brings change

Some Australian agricultural producers are already changing the game when it comes to technological innovations.

Since 2011, researchers across the northern parts of rural Australia have beentrialling satellite technology to aid farmers on immensely large properties in tracking their livestock and monitoring the condition of their pastures.

Entrepreneurs such as Ella Shannon are also using tech to make life easier for primary producers.

Shannon, who grew up on a sheep and cattle property in Yass, NSW, designed and launched a tech platform called AgDraft to help increase the utilisation of skilled labour in regional areas as well as make use of more transient, seasonal labour sources.

“We profile and match workers to jobs on skills, job category and time availability,” Shannon said.

“No farm is immune from labour shortages. I wanted to provide a tool and ignite a workforce from outside of the industry including backpackers, grey nomads and uni students.

“We use an Airbnb style reviewing system to build trust and help people connect outside their networks.”

Working on the family farm with her dad Peter has given entrepreneur Ella Shannon a unique insight into the needs of primary producers

Shannon said without a reliable labour force, production is affected.

“Short-term jobs (don’t get) done, or resources are pulled from other part of the business and this is costly in terms of productivity and output.”

She said the site already had 650 registered users in less than a year of operation.

“The industry is at a turning point in digital disruption, we have forged past early adopter and moving into widespread use of technology,” she said.

“These advancements in technology will change the skills and expertise needed in agriculture.”

 Source: AgTech Ideas For Aussie Farming Incubator Programs

UN monitoring mission eyes Site C dam impact on Wood Buffalo National Park

A bear climbs down after raiding a raven’s nest atop of power transmission tower in Wood Buffalo National Park in this Sunday May 10, 2015 handout image provide by hunter Linda Powell of O.F. Mossberg and Sons, Inc. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO)

By Bruce Cheadle, The Canadian Press

Sunday, September 25, 2016

OTTAWA — A United Nations monitoring mission to a world heritage site in northern Alberta appears likely to focus more attention on the contested Site C hydroelectric project next door in British Columbia.

Wood Buffalo National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1983, is under review this week at the request of the Mikisew Cree First Nation, who petitioned the world body in 2014 to list the park as being under threat from various developments.

The park is at the convergence of the Peace and Athabaska rivers and is considered the largest freshwater boreal delta on the planet.

Conservationists and local First Nations are concerned about how two existing hydro dams on the Peace River are affecting the hydrology of the park — a problem they say will be compounded by B.C.’s massive Site C dam that’s going ahead on the Peace River.

The World Heritage Centre concluded in 2015 that a review of cumulative effects on Wood Buffalo National Park was warranted, and in the meantime asked that Canada not make any other development decisions that “would be difficult to reverse.”

Nonetheless, the Trudeau government issued federal fisheries permits this summer to allow construction to go ahead on Site C, which will dam an 83-kilometre long reservoir on the Peace River.

The 10-day “reactive monitoring mission” of Wood Buffalo by a committee of international UNESCO experts got underway Sunday, after being postponed earlier in the year due to the wildfires around Fort McMurray, Alta.

The park review opens a new front in the battle over Site C, which is already being challenged in Federal Court by two B.C. First Nations.

The federal permits quietly issued in late July further inflamed the debate, with Perry Bellgarde, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, publicly stating this month that the hydro project is not being handled in keeping with Canada’s constitution nor with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Those concerns about indigenous consultation dovetail with the complaints over the management of Wood Buffalo National Park.

The World Heritage Committee’s decision to go ahead with the review noted “with concern the lack of engagement with indigenous communities in monitoring activities, as well as insufficient consideration of traditional ecological knowledge.”

Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna welcomed the UNESCO monitoring mission, which could only come with the invitation of the federal government.

“The government of Canada is committed to preserving our national parks, some of which are recognized World Heritage sites, and doing so in partnership with local communities, Indigenous peoples and other stakeholders,” McKenna said in a statement Friday.

Source: UN monitoring mission eyes Site C dam impact on Wood Buffalo National Park | CTV News

Canada’s annual inflation rate sinks to 10-month low of 1.1%, Statistics Canada Said Friday

September 25, 2016

OTTAWA: Canada’s annual inflation rate in August dipped to a 10-month low of 1.1 per cent, the seventh consecutive month it has remained below the Bank of Canada’s 2.0 per cent target, Statistics Canada said on Friday.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast the annual rate would edge up to 1.4 per cent from 1.3 per cent in July. The August rate was the lowest since the 1.0 per cent recorded in October 2015.

Food prices exerted the main drag on the overall rate, rising by 1.1 per cent in the 12 months to August compared to a 1.6 per cent year-on-year-increase in July. The recreation, education and reading index grew 1.1 per cent in the year to August, down from 1.9 per cent in July.

The annual core inflation rate, which strips out the prices of energy and some foods and is watched closely by the Bank of Canada, dipped to 1.8 per cent from 2.1 per cent.

The central bank, which says inflation is being influenced by temporary factors, is widely expected to keep interest rates steady until 2018.

The value of Canadian retail trade unexpectedly fell in July, dipping by 0.1 per cent from June as gas station sales dropped for the first time in four months, Statistics Canada data indicated on Friday.

Analysts in a Reuters poll had predicted sales would increase by 0.1 per cent. Statscan revised June’s data to show no change from May after initially saying sales had fallen by 0.1 per cent.

Sales decreased in five of 11 subsectors while in volume terms, sales grew by 0.3 per cent. Gas station sales fell by 3.0 per cent, pulled down by weaker pump prices.

AUTO PARTS SECTOR

Motor vehicle and parts dealers, the largest subsector, posted a 0.2 per cent drop in sales, the fourth decline in five months. Food and beverages stores, the second-largest sub-sector, saw sales edge down by 0.1 per cent.

Sales at furnishing and home furnishing stores decreased by 1.4 per cent, while sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores rose by 1.6 per cent.

Meanwhile, Canadian stocks halted a four-day rally as energy producers tumbled with crude, while inflation data that boosted the likelihood of added stimulus sent financial shares lower and an unexpected drop in retail sales weighed on consumer shares.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 0.7 per cent to 14,697.93 in Toronto, paring the best weekly advance since April to 1.7 per cent. The benchmark for Canadian equity has surged 4.5 per cent in the third quarter, pushing its gain this year to 13 per cent.

Nine of the 11 sectors declined Friday, with raw-materials and energy producers losing more than 1 per cent. Oil and gas companies retreated as New York crude slumped as much as 4.1 per cent to trade at around $44 a barrel.

Financial-service firms fell 0.5 per cent on Friday. Only six of the 26 members in the group advanced. Combined the firms make up about one-third of the S&P/TSX. Bank of Nova Scotia fell 0.9 per cent after closing at a record.

Canada’s core inflation rate was the slowest in two years in August, with the pace of consumer prices and overall inflation decelerating. The data spurred bets the economy may need added monetary stimulus. That hit financial shares that would see profits crimped by lower interest rates.

Shares of consumer staples stocks fell after data showed retail sales unexpectedly fell in July. Maple Leaf Foods slumped 1.8 per cent and Loblaw Cos. slid 1 per cent to pace declines.

Raw-materials producers slipped 1.4 per cent. Barrick Gold Corporation and Goldcorp dropped more than 1.2 per cent. Silver Wheaton Corporation slumped 2.3 per cent and First Quantum Minerals fell 1.2 per cent.

Source: gulftoday.ae | Canada’s annual inflation rate sinks to 10-month low of 1.1%

Major Nova Scotia rivers dry enough to ‘walk across without getting your feet wet’

Cook’s Brook is normally an important spawning ground for salmon and trout (Stephanie vanKampen/CBC)

‘If things don’t turn around quickly, it’s going to have a lasting impact on the sport’

By Stephanie vanKampen

September 24, 2016

Nova Scotia’s severe drought has claimed another victim — the province’s recreational sport fishery is virtually non-existent, as rivers have dried up.

The head of the Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Ian Avery, says the province’s 70,000 recreational fishers have nowhere to fish.

“When you go to any of the major rivers, you can literally walk across these rivers without getting your feet wet, whereas, normally you would be in knee-deep water,” said Avery.

1 in 100-year event

Avery said the drought could have a lasting impact on the brook trout and salmon fishery if rivers don’t get replenished soon.

“As the water levels drop, the temperature rises, of course, and that means a lack of oxygen for fish,” said Avery. “It’s been an anomaly this year to the point where it’s a one in 100-year event. This has never happened in Nova Scotia in quite a long time.”

Avery says the recreational sport fishery represents a $76-100 million industry in the province.

He says fishing clubs have a contingency plan to restock the rivers with small fish once water levels rise. But, he admits, that could take a while.

“If we don’t get the rain, the fish won’t be able to travel to their spawning grounds, which means less fish next year and the year after,” said Avery.

“It will have a detrimental effect on future fishing.”

On the LaHave River near Bridgewater, N.S., an area that is classified class 4-5 rapids in the spring, is now a trickle.

Carroll Randall, a registered fishing guide, says what is normally a beautiful paddle on the LaHave River, is now a hike. (Stephanie vanKampen/CBC)

Carroll Randall is a registered fishing guide, but he hasn’t had any customers this summer for trout or salmon due to the drought.

He says it is hurting the fishery, but the real victims are the fish.

“We could lose a whole generation of fish,” says Randall.  “The fish have to spawn, and if they can’t find a place to spawn, then all those eggs are lost, all those baby fish are lost, and it could mean some real trouble down the road.”

Rock piles

Rivers across the province are being described as “rock piles,” with historically low water levels, according to some guides.

Randall said the federal fisheries officers who have been monitoring fish numbers in the LaHave River have reported shockingly low numbers.

Randall said just 33 fish have passed through a fish way near Morgan’s Falls. In the past, hundreds have travelled the route.

He said even recent rains haven’t put a dent in the problem. Rivers need at least 200 millimetres of rain in order to save the fish.

Source: Major N.S. rivers dry enough to ‘walk across without getting your feet wet’

Europe nears trade deal with Canada

European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom at the informal meeting of EU trade ministers in Bratislava, Slovakia | Jakub Gavlak/EPA

With CETA on track, the bloc keeps TTIP on life support.

By HANS VON DER BURCHARDS

September 23, 2016

BRATISLAVA — EU ministers have forged the political momentum required to seal their long-delayed trade deal with Canada but acknowledged that a more contentious pact with the U.S. will not be finalized this year.

At a meeting in Bratislava on Friday, the ministers drew up a plan to sign up to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Ottawa on October 18.

This sudden acceleration toward the diplomatic finish line was only possible after German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel earlier in the week secured overwhelming support for CETA at a convention of his often skeptical Social Democratic Party.

The SDP vote was followed by a similarly massive majority in the Bundestag.

Europe’s accord with Canada has become a defining test of whether Brussels is still able to steer the EU’s trade policy and the pact seemed in mortal danger while Germany’s commitment remained in question.

In Bratislava, Gabriel said he was now “very optimistic” that all 28 countries should be able to throw their weight behind the pact after months of tortuous diplomacy.

In addition to concerns in Germany, CETA’s advocates have needed to confront objections from Romania over visa reciprocity and Belgium’s Wallonia region about the rights of foreign investors to sue governments.

The most significant remaining hurdle, however, is Austria, where Social Democratic Chancellor Christian Kern has struck an increasingly hostile tone towards free trade.

Many diplomats, however, predicted that Vienna would ultimately sign on October 18, not least because of pressure from Berlin.

Source: Europe nears trade deal with Canada – POLITICO