“Without local content requirements for solar and wind power, the Green Energy Act is almost worthless to Ontario. Our provinces and local governments should have the right to ask for some local content in big projects like energy, transit and construction. These kinds of policies are used the world over to create vibrant local businesses. The alternative way of attracting investment is to cut wages and taxes, which is just a race to the bottom. We need more options if we are going to make our economies more sustainable. The Green Energy Act was one of those options and we expect the federal government to appeal this unfortunate WTO decision.” – Stuart Trew, trade campaigner, Council of Canadians
The Council of Canadians is one of seven environmental, labour and student groups that filed a joint amicus curiae (friend of the court) submission to the WTO dispute settlement panel hearing the European Union and Japanese case against the Green Energy Act.
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