The Ottawa Citizen reported on June 1 that, “A motion to open NAFTA talks to make sure bulk-water exports are excluded from the deal sparked an acrimonious three-hour debate in the House yesterday, with all three Opposition parties lined up against the Tories. Submitted by the Standing Committee on International Trade, the motion calls for a formal letter of agreement with the U.S. and Mexico to make sure bulk water will never be defined as a good or service under NAFTA. If it were, the panel says, NAFTA rules against government interference could allow firms to sue the provincial or federal governments if they try to bar them from shipping water across the border.”
New Democrat Member of Parliament, Peter Julian reported, “As a quick update I wanted to let you know that the Motion on preventing bulk water exports that was brought to the House of Commons as a result of the NDP hearings on deep integration at the Standing Committee on International Trade passed last night in Parliament by a vote of 134 to 108, with all Conservatives voting against and with a couple of dozen Liberal MPs either absent or abstaining. All New Democrats voted in favour of this motion.”
“This is great news”, said CUPE national president Paul Moist. “CUPE, the Council of Canadians, the New Democratic Party, and many environmental groups have been working very hard to protect water from comodification, and this is a definite step in the right direction.”