Victoria City Council unanimously passes strong anti-CETA Resolution

2012 May 11, by Chapter Council

The Victoria Chapter of the Council of Canadians congratulates the Mayor and the Victoria City Council on passing a strong resolution asking for a clear, permanent exemption for the City of Victoria from the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The motion was sponsored by Councillor Marianne Alto and passed unanimously. Council of Canadians trade campaigner Stuart Trew has highlighted, “Nearly 60 cities, towns and school boards have called for more information on the negotiations and a say in the outcome. At least 33 have asked to be excluded from CETA altogether to protect their democratic rights to set social policy and spending priorities without fear of corporate challenges”.

Victoria’s resolution noted that CETA would “diminish the capacity of local government to hire or buy locally so as to use public spending as a tool for local economic development” and “limit the powers of local governments to act in the best interest of its residents”. The comprehensive resolution highlighted many valid concerns on CETA, including access to water rights and services, increased municipal reporting and administrative costs,  privatization and lack of transparency in dispute resolution, and the unprecedented reach of an international trade agreement into municipal procurement agreements. Victoria joins cities such as Toronto, Hamilton, Mississauga, Burnaby and North Vancouver that have passed resolutions on CETA recently.

The full text of the motion can be found at http://www.victoriacouncilofcanadians.ca/trade/ceta/victoria-to-debate-resolution-to-keep-out-of-ceta-10-may/

BE IT THUS RESOLVED THAT

1. City Council ask the Province of British Columbia for a clear, permanent exemption for the City of Victoria from the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA); and

2. City Council ask the Federal Government to protect the autonomous powers of the City of Victoria – to create local jobs, protect the environment, and provide services and programs as it sees fit – from any restrictions to those powers in the CETA; and

3. City Council ask the Federal Government to further exempt from the CETA any municipality that so requests; and

4. City Council encourage and support the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in its work with the Federal Government to change the terms of the draft CETA to protect the autonomy of municipal governments.

For more information, contact the Victoria Council of Canadians info@victoriacouncilofcanadians.ca