The Para-Political scandal in Colombia is one good reason why Canada should not have a free trade accord with Colombia.

The para-political scandal is the current outrage engulfing Colombian politics. In February, the foreign minister was forced to resign after the arrest of her brother, a senator in Colombia’s congress, due to their ties to one of the heads of a paramilitary group. In April, Senator Gustavo Petro, of Polo Democrático Alternativo, the new alternative political party in Colombia, exposed the web of relationships between the death squads and members of the President’s party as well senators from different parties, including liberal members of congress. Read more…