Maude Barlow writing for the CBC?

I've never understood Canadian suspicions about trading water with the United States. We trade oil, gas, electrical power, wood, and a huge variety of manufactured and agricultural goods, and actually get upset when the Americans try to impose restrictions to this trade. But mention trading water, a renewable resource we have in tremendous abundance, and we suddenly want to keep it all for ourselves.

The CBC has a new series this fall based on our unique cultural psychosis. It's called H₂O and supposedly 'combines ripped-from-the-headlines verisimilitude with the burning issues of the day to create a cautionary tale of Canada’s future.' Sounds more like it takes our water obsession and mixes it with some good old-fashioned anti-American paranoia:

On the eve of testy discussions with the U.S. Secretary of State about the integration of internal borders and the possibility of continental union, Prime Minister Matthew McLaughlin is killed in an accident. An investigation is immediately launched into his death, triggering a series of events and uncovering a shocking plot to sell one of Canada’s most valuable resources – water.

Returning to Canada from abroad to attend his father’s funeral, Tom McLaughlin attracts the attention of the ruling party when his eulogy to his father galvanizes public sentiment. Tom accepts the invitation to run for political office and enters the party leadership race. He is victorious, and goes on to become prime minister when the public embraces his populist maverick approach. However, the investigation into his father’s death reveals that it was no accident, raising the possibility that he was assassinated. The trail of evidence leads to a dark conspiracy that could lead Canada into oblivion.

The good thing is that because it's on CBC, no one will see it. The bad thing is that it'll still have to be paid for.

Posted by Bruce Gottfred at August 14, 2004 11:42 AM | TrackBack