Canadians balk at longer brand-name drug patents

"This is consistent with polls we've done in the past," says Stuart Trew, trade campaigner for the Council of Canadians. "People are uncomfortable with these changes and I think that should be a strong message to the government that they don't have a mandate to make them." Prime Minister Stephen Harper signed on to CETA in principle on Oct. 18, but neither party has made the precise wording of the deal public. Meanwhile, public consultation has been limited to largely one-way technical briefings on highlights of the pact, says Trew. "They weren't even recording questions in the minutes, so there's been no indication that these meetings have had any effect on the negotiations." "We'd like to think the federal government will do a public hearing or review," says Trew. "But I think that's more likely to come from the provinces."