The
proposed Canada-Europe Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
is generating serious questions and concerns from local governments across
Canada. CETA, a sweeping trade and investment deal, is currently in its tenth
round of negotiations, and the Canadian government believes it could be
concluded by the end of the year.
So begins an article in
the Tyee by Robert Duffy May 3rd 2012. Duffy goes on to say;
Since 2010, more
than 50 Canadian municipalities, local government associations and school
boards have passed resolutions expressing concern about the CETA's potential
impact local public services and decision making.
This concern
spans across the political spectrum, from progressives like Burnaby Mayor Derek
Corrigan all the way to right-of-centre municipal politicians like Toronto
Mayor Rob Ford and Mississauga Mayor Hazel McAllion.
Both McAllion and
Ford supported recent council resolutions calling for full disclosure of
provincial CETA offers and allowing municipalities to choose a "clear and
permanent exemption" from the deal. A number of other Ontario
municipalities have passed similar resolutions in the past few months, joining
the Union of BC Municipalities, the BC School Trustees Association and others
who passed CETA resolutions in 2010 and 2011.
Full article: http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/05/03/Secrets-of-CETA/
Full article: http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/05/03/Secrets-of-CETA/
Our School Board is
concerned (letter in Council package) but at Monday night’s Council meeting a motion to question this
agreement and send a follow–up letter was defeated in a tie
vote. Councillors Pallesen, Scott and
Davis voted against the motion. Councillors
Pallesen and Scott gave no reason as to why they disagreed with the remainder
of Councils’ concern but they followed the lead of Councillor Davis who said,
“I think these are all great items
but we could talk to our MP or something like that but I think you know
honestly the school board, they’ve got
enough on their plate to worry about other than …. our authorities
there, the province are there to take care of these things. I think we should just receive the file”.
“I’m
not in favour of the motion. I think
the school boards of British Columbia have their hands full right now with a
very serious issue and we have the mechanisms in place in our society to take
care of the drinking water, to get involved in an international situations when
we’ve got this mess in British Columbia is beyond the school board.”
The school board
letter in question can be read at:
More information can be read in this briefing paper which can be found at:
A more detailed
understanding of this far-reaching agreement might also be obtained by viewing:
Angus' comments were nonsensical. I've read the letter and watched the Council meeting. The letter was sent to the province and cc'd to the City. No action was requested from the City other than a FYI. That said, looks like lots of other cities across Canada think that CETA needs a close look. Kudos to our SD5 board members for taking an interest in issues that may effect us --and showing courtesy to let our Councilors know as well.
ReplyDeleteI mean, come on. I would think at a minimum our Councilors would take some time to click on a URL and review the issues. An agreement that could open up our local businesses to international competition? Unclear language about protection of public resources? Gee whiz, I think I might take a few minutes to learn more about that. What I saw on Monday night was really unacceptable from a group elected to represent our citizens.