WIN! CETA motion passed by City of Toronto executive committee
CAW Local 2000 continues it’s active involvement in raising awareness and accountability on the proposed Canada Europe Trade Agreement (CETA). As noted in this previous news bulletin, the impact of this proposed agreement is potentially huge and is likely to have specific provisions related to foreign ownership in our industry industry.
Already, we have begun to gain traction and have a victory to share: Yesterday evening, Toronto’s executive committee passed the following motion:
THAT CITY COUNCIL:
- Endorse the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) seven principles for the Federal Government to apply to the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and future trade deals
- Encourage the Federal Government of Canada and the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway to continue consultation with FCM in order to address municipal concerns in relation to trade deals.
- Request the Province of Ontario to accelerate direct dialogue with City of Toronto officials to ensure that the City of Toronto’s municipal rights are protected, with particular attention to:
- The low procurement thresholds of $340,000 for goods and services and $8.5 million for construction
- Local procurement needs
- Dispute resolution mechanism
- Communicate its position to the Federal Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
This is a small yet very important step that will eventually allow the full city council to move the issue forward and pursue the matter with the provincial and federal governments.
It should be stressed that this is a proposal being brokered by the federal government and will affect Canadian citizens from coast to coast. As such, our union is committed to pursuing the issue at all levels of government across Canada in partnership with our CAW National office, the Council of Canadians, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Canadian Environmental Law Association as well as academic and private sector experts from all areas affected by this proposed trade agreement.
In summary, even as we continue to pursue and advance our members cause in our workplace, our Local will continue to step up it’s involvement in the broader social issues that affect our communities, as well.
Stay tuned – there will be more to come!
Dylan Gadwa
President – CAW Local 2000
Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 February 2012 09:11 Written by President Tuesday, 14 February 2012 08:46
