The Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD) invites citizens on both sides of the Canadian-American border, to weigh in on the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

In the US Democratic primary this year both Senators Obama and Clinton made it clear that the North American Free Trade Agreement as it now stands is not acceptable to America.

"Since a move to renegotiate NAFTA would have far-reaching ramifications for both Canada and the United States, the CSD is hoping Canadians and Americans will make their own views known," says CSD Chair, Tom Axworthy.

On-line voting at www.queensu.ca/csd will close Thursday, October 23, at 5 pm EST.

The results will be made public on Friday, October 24, after members of the Queen's Debating Union re-enact portions of the 1988 free trade debates and a panel of experts for and against NAFTA debate its future, at a symposium honouring former prime minister John Turner.

Open to the public and moderated by CSD Fellow Mary Lou Finlay, a veteran Canadian broadcaster of CBC Radio’s As It Happens, the debate will feature Canadian Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, Canadian trade expert William Dymond of Carleton University, New York State union leader and scholar Mark Levinson,  and American Presidential Historian Yanek Mieczkowski of Dowling College.

The debate coincides with the 20th anniversary of the first televised debate between Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Liberal leader John Turner and New Democratic Party leader Ed Broadbent in Canada over the issue of free trade with the United States, an agreement later expanded into the NAFTA.

Mr. Turner, Canada's 17th Prime Minister, will be at Queen’s earlier that morning, and speaking at noon about trade with America and other issues.

“This anniversary presents Canadians and Americans with an historic opportunity to look to the future of the NAFTA,” says CSD Chair Tom Axworthy."