An ever-growing number of municipal leaders and councils is speaking up about the dangers for communities of a Canada-European Union trade deal.
The mayors of 20 East Coast communities took a stand at a recent meeting, calling for water to be taken out of the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) being negotiated between Canada and the EU.
The Atlantic mayors also called for greater input and a seat at the table, highlighting the fact that municipalities have been left out of CETA talks. Yet CETA will bring in far-reaching new rules to govern local purchasing, regulation and decision-making.
Municipal councils in the British Columbia communities of Grand Forks and New Westminster have both passed resolutions demanding permanent exemptions from CETA.
The New Westminister motion also focuses on transparency, calling on the BC government to make its CETA negotiating position public.
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Read a letter to the editor about the Atlantic mayors’ decision from CUPE Nova Scotia President Danny Cavanagh and Council of Canadians regional organizer Angela Giles.