Yesterday evening the Brockville chapter of the Council of Canadians were successful in convincing Brockville city council to pass a resolution of concern about the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Brockville now joins ten other communities in Ontario (Brantford, Alnwick/Haldimand, Trent Hills, Asphodel-Norwood, Tecumseh), Nova Scotia (Lunenberg), and British Columbia (Logan Lake, Burnaby, North Vancouver, Trail) that have passed resolutions of concern about CETA.
The resolution, brought forward by Councilor Leigh Bursey, states that Brockville requests:
- A briefing from the Province of Ontario on the scope and content of trade negotiations with the European Union;
- The Federation of Canadian Municipalities to provide sector-by-sector analysis of the potential impacts on municipal functions and powers of the procurement regime that the European Union is seeking;
- That local MP Gord Brown give a report on CETA.
Unfortunately, Brockville city council was not willing to pass the parts of the resolution that included banning access to sub-national government procurement by the EU and an exemption for local governments from CETA. But given their lack of familiarity on the issue, this is an important step to broadening municipal awareness of the impacts of CETA on cities.
Find out how to pass a resolution in your community by clicking here.
