The City of Victoria is the latest municipality to demand protection from a new investment and trade deal between Canada and the European Union.
Victoria city council has passed a motion demanding a permanent exemption from the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) being negotiated between Canada and the EU. Victoria joins a growing list of municipalities, school boards and other groups seeking shelter from CETA.
The far-reaching deal would for the first time bind municipalities to controversial international rules affecting how local governments spend public money. Local content or local hiring policies attached to contracts, or occasional “Buy Canadian” rules would be banned outright.
The proposed deal gives European corporations new powers to challenge decisions made by federal, provincial and municipal governments and sue for compensation – a fundamental and unacceptable shift in our democracy.
In recent days the Ontario municipalities of Kitchener, Wellesley Township and British Columbia municipalities of Saanich and the District of Sechelt have also passed motions expressing concern about CETA’s impact.
The chorus of opposition to CETA is getting louder, despite the Harper government’s aggressive sales pitch.
- View the full list of municipal, school board and association resolutions - MAP.