Thursday, May 8, 2008

Watching over the MDA Verdict

The Honourable Jim Prentice in the end rejected the takeover of MDA by Alliant technologies, on grounds that "under the Investment Canada regime (...) we don't see net benefits to Canada in this transaction." (CBC, 10.04.2008). This decision was wlcomed by choral paeans across the board (The Star, 11.04. 2008; Rideau Institute, 11.04.2008), with the exception of commentator (Macleans, ).
Unfortunately, positions like Croynbee's are not uncommon in Canada, where oftentimes an idealised view of economic liberalism has blinded analysts and decisionmakers alike to the power dimension of corporate ownership in the competitive international political economy.

This naive opinion has, over time, been responsible for the sell out of some major pieces of Canada's industrial and financial capitalism, on which successive governments have regularly failed to stand up against.
The final decision by the Federal Government is due today (08. 05. 2008). Let us watch that today's decision is not just an act in a panthomime where the actor's knew of a positive outcome from the start. Let is make sure, that is, that the Minister of Industry stays the course of his initial opinion and definetely rejects the sale.

So, Jim and Stephen, be advised: ve'll be watching over your shoulders...