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Two groups of people will be meeting in two week’s time in Québec to talk about energy, the environment and security. The meetings will be miles apart - literally and figuratively.

On the one hand, unions and fair trade activists will be meeting in Montréal. On the other, energy ministers, along with the leaders of Canada, the US and Mexico will be meeting in Montebello.

And while participants at both meetings will claim to be talking how to protect the environment and public access to energy, the claims of those meeting at the posh resort might not stand up to scrutiny.

The Montebello meeting of the Security and Prosperity Partnership promises to focus on - among other things - negotiating guaranteed access to energy resources, which, according to author Linda McQuaig means guaranteeing the energy-poor United States that Canada will sell them energy, no matter whether Canada has enough or not.

Meanwhile, the Montréal meeting of unions, environmental, and fair trade organizations will be focusing on energy conservation, energy access and energy as a public service. The meeting will be held at Centre Saint-Pierre, 1212 Beaudry St., room 100, Montreal, near metro Beaudry.

Conference invitees will visit Ottawa on August 19 to be part of a rally on Parliament Hill against the Security and Prosperity Partnership.

Demonstrations are also planned for Montebello itself.

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