The Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group (LPIRG), along with the Lethbridge and District Chapter of the Council of Canadians, is presenting a screening of "You, Me and the SPP: Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule" tonight at the Lethbridge Public Library.

Part of a national tour, it will be the debut screening of the documentary film in Lethbridge and features a question and answer period with filmmaker Paul Manly following the 7 p.m. show.

What do secrecy, police provocateurs, an assault on democracy and infringements on citizens' rights have in common? The Security and Prosperity Partnership.

The Canadian government says "The Security and Prosperity Partnership is neither an agreement nor a treaty but a dialogue." Following the shock of 9/11, right-wing political and business leaders have pushed the SPP agenda. Negotiating away from public scrutiny, they say it is the way to keep trade flowing between the United States, Canada and Mexico. You, Me and the SPP exposes the corporate agenda of the SPP and reveals that this secretive agreement is about much more than trade.

Opponents of this secretive 'dialogue' claim that it is undemocratic and a direct threat to the sovereignty of the three countries involved, Canada, the United States and Mexico; it bypasses their parliamentary systems and places control of regulatory integration in the hands of large corporations.

The national tour is sponsored by: the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union; the Canadian Union of Public Employees; the Public Service Alliance of Canada; the Council of Canadians; and the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives. The tour launched with a screening on Parliament Hill on Oct. 1. Information about the film, including a list of screening dates, the trailer, and additional videos can be viewed on the film's website www.youmespp.com

For more information on the free Lethbridge screening, contact LPIRG at pirg@uleth.ca or by calling 403-332-5243.