The barricades are going up and the police are being called
out as the Canadian government prepares for a major gathering of
world leaders later this month in Quebec. Heads of state from 34
countries are attending the Summit of the Americas. While there,
they hope to negotiate a free trade agreement that could effectively
expand NAFTA to cover the rest of the western hemisphere. The
police and barriers will be used to keep protesters far away from all
the
activity. But representatives of major international companies will be
able to walk right in – that is, if they have paid the right admission
price.
Great Lakes Radio Consortium commentator Suzanne Elston wonders
exactly whose interests are being protected: