Centre for Civic Governance

Canada EU Economic and Trade Agreement will Jeopardize Municipal Water Services and Local Procurement Policies

Canadian Trade Lawyer Steve Shrybman presented a number of worrying scenarios at a dialogue session hosted by the Centre For Civic Governance last Friday at the FCM. He pointed out that the "The European Union has made a pointed request that drinking water services be included in the trade agreement, opening the door for big multinational firms to “stake” a claim in municipal water systems." This would open the doors for the privatization and foreign control over water. The agreement also threatens the ability of municipalities to buy locally, and companies could no longer be favoured in the bidding process by their investment in the local community. So far, many municipalities seem to be unaware of the consequences of this binding agreement. Click here to read Shrybman's report. Read more in the Toronto Star.

Vancouver Becomes Canada's First Fair Trade City

Vancouver has signed on to be Canada's first Fair Trade City. With an ethical purchasing policy already in use, this move further establishes the city's commitment to buying products that were made with fair and sustainable labour practices. Read more in the Vancouver Sun.

To view Vancouver's Fair Trade resolution, click here.

Three BC Municipalities Reject the Terms of the Canada EU Trade Agreement

The Canadian and European "Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement" (C.E.T.A.) is being carefully scrutinized by three BC Municiplaities. The cities of Burnaby, North Vancouver and Trail are asking the province and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) for a detailed analysis on the impact of the agreement on local purchasing policies and control over resources. A leaked document has shown that the agreement would eliminate local procurement policies of municipal and provincial governments and open Canada's drinking water systems to private water corporations.

If your city is interested in drafting a resolution on the trade agreement, please see the language adopted here http://www.canadians.org/tradeblog/?p=799.

Tofino to Fast-Food Chains: Keep Out

The District of Tofino is drafting bylaws that would throw up a nearly insurmountable series of roadblocks to discourage franchised fast-food chains hoping to do business in Canada's surfer playground.

The district is considering restrictions on everything from the size and illumination of signage and cookie-cutter decor to takeout packaging, carbon footprint and use of non-local ingredients, according to chief administrative officer Bob Long.

A Reason to Celebrate: The Lowest Paid in Ontario Just Got a Raise

Raise a glass today in honour of the hard-working souls who flip burgers, serve double-doubles and clean hotel rooms. In Ontario, they just got a decent raise: the minimum wage goes up 75 cents, to $10.25 an hour. That makes Ontario's minimum the highest in Canada - and today marks the first time the bottom rung of our labour market passes that $10 threshold.

The new benchmark represents the completion of a promise made by the McGuinty government in 2007. Since then, minimum wage workers in Ontario have pocketed 28 per cent in wage increases.

Rebuild Haiti, This Time Green

 And show the world how to move to a just and sustainable economy. An 'Eco-conversion' Manifesto.

Buy American’ trade deal threatens municipal procurement in Canada

The “Buy American” exemption deal negotiated by Canada and the USA last week may be a serious threat to local government control over procurement policy.

Until now, municipal procurement in Canada has been exempt from international trade agreements. But the deal announced February 5th extends the Government Procurement Agreement of the WTO to cover Canadian municipalities. These WTO rules stop municipalities from implementing “buy local” or “made in Canada” preferences for purchases of goods and services.

A Manitoba Solution for Plastic Bags

Plastic bags are now regulated as service packaging under the Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation, passed in December 2008. The Guideline for Plastic Bags under the Regulation establishes a target to reduce the use of single use plastic bags by 50% within five years.

Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM) will launch a new industry program to manage packaging and printed paper, including plastic bags in spring 2010.

In Copenhagen, the New Radicals

A student in Copenhagen sees hope for the future of humanity -- but only if we're willing to fight for it.

[Editor's note: Last week, University of Victoria Environmental Law Professor Michael M'Gonigle wrote a two-part letter to a friend at the climate change conference in Copenhagen. That friend is student Jamie Biggar, who is attending conference as a member of the Canada Youth Delegation. This is Biggar's response.]

Hello M.M.,

"Buy American" bogeyman: Instead of fretting about US purchasing policies, we should focus on stimulating Canada's economy

Who knew? It turns out the biggest threat to the Canadian economy and jobs is not collapsed global financial institutions, weak markets, lack of innovation or declining infrastructure. No - apparently the clear and present danger Canada suddenly faces is "Buy American."