No TPP Ratification by First Nations says Fast
Prince George, B.C. – Federal Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast, says the Trans Pacific Partnership deal will not be put before First Nations in Canada for ratification.
In a one on one interview with 250News, Fast says First Nations ratification is not part of the deal “Because we embarked on a broad consultation process right from the start. Back in 2011 we published a notice in the Canada Gazette, which is the public notice, that we were planning on entering the Trans Pacific Partnership. We also had a web based consultation process in which every single Canadian, every single Canadian organization had an opportunity to participate. Right through the negotiations we consulted extensively with all of our key stakeholders and, by the way, the negotiating positions we took at the table were actually formed by those consultations and the outcome we achieved for Canada reflects those consultations. So there has been very broad consultation. We believe Canadians, once they look carefully at this agreement will agree with us that it is critical Canada be part of this largest trading block in the world.”
Minister Fast says while the 250 plus pages of summary of the agreement is available, the full package won’t be available for some time “It takes time to put flesh on the bones and come up with the full legal text. The TPP includes 12 different countries all of which have to ensure the text that is generated after negotiations reflects what they agreed to, it is a longer process. We had hoped to release at least the provisional copy of the text , problem is all 12 parties have to agree to release that and that text is not yet complete and my understanding is it could run well into the coming weeks before that can be done.”
Fast says 150 stakeholders in Canada have already reviewed the summary and have said it is a deal they can support.
According to Fast the TPP will offer benefits to B.C. in opening up the markets to the PAcific Asia region to forest and value added wood products, tarrifs that currently exist will eventually disappear “Especially in Japan, where many of the non tariff barriers, the standards regulations and rules are being disciplined simply as protectionist measures to prevent our products from getting into the market.” He also says there are benefits in the resource sector “Whether its mining or oil and gas, Canada is a world leader when it comes to technology the area.” He says there are opportunities for fish and seafood , wine and spirits to have access to the Asia Pacific. “The TPP opens up new markets for our wine industry.”
The TPP is critical to Canada’s export future says Fast “If we were on the outside looking in, we would lose any control over our export future within that region. Our preferences in North America would very quickly be eroded our opportunities to export to the Asia Pacific region would be very quickly eroded and any opportunities for growth in exports would be still born.”
Comments
Why would first Nations get a say on international treaties?
Darn good reporting… How did Elaine get an interview with Ed Fast right in the middle of an election?
I’m impressed. The CBC doesn’t get this much access.
“The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is reviving the debate over temporary foreign workers because side agreements would exempt international companies in Canada from requirements to offer jobs to Canadians first.”
TPP deal contains some exemptions on temporary foreign workers
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tpp-deal-contains-some-exemptions-on-temporary-foreign-workers/article26817494/
Not too sure about the TPP.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/gerard-montpetit/democracy-for-sale_b_8263960.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/john-jacobs/the-transpacific-partners_b_8287160.html
Would love to see the summery. failing that here is what we know.. Chile have a very advanced wood sector producing pulp, paper, plywood and OSB plus a very active value added sector and produce at 1/3 our costs. Other countries under the TPP are not interested in our lumber or wood products however Japan wants our raw logs. So open the door to Chile to export free into Canada and US and what happens to our jobs?? also Chile has a rich history in wines, allowing free access into our market and US will cause heart burn for our industry. So just on these two issues I fail to see the net benefit. Add in the dairy industry and auto sector which will be given billions in taxpayer subsidies to counter the affects of the TPP, getting concerned about just were is the benefit? Also the TPP does not involve the USA Canada Soft wood agreement, so why not?? and why are the drug companies celebrating? good for Canada …. really, were is the deal really taking us.
Steph 100. As pointed out by Fast the alternative could be much worse,. If we are out of the agreement would Japan still be buying our logs???
The Softwood Agreement Expires this year. We have a year to negotiate a new agreement. Will the American negotiate?? If not we have a serious problem. Can Softwood Lumber be folded into the TPP? Who knows.
Fact of the matter is, we need at some point to believe that the Canadian Government, and its negotiators, who are privy to the big picture, are looking out for our interests.
One thing is certain. The Liberals or the NDP if elected will not back away from this agreement. They are opposed to it right now because of the politics of the present election. After the election they will change their tune. In fact Trudeau is already on board, and if you can believe the polls Mulcair is about to go on vacation.
So for all intents and purposes we now have a new trade agreement, and are just waiting for the details.
Maybe because the Govt is encroaching on First Nation’s Territory, as the Supreme court Ruling
The politics are interesting. I don’t think The NDP and the Liberals want to see the TPP deal before the election.
If they saw the deal now, they’d either have to change their tune right in the middle of an election and say that Harper has done a good job, or they will have to kill the TPP when/if they are elected no matter how good it is. They may not like either of these options.
If they don’t see the deal now, they can continue to lash out against Harper, but then support the deal when they are elected…
Let`s get this straight: Harper swears that the TPP is the hottest thing since the invention of sliced bread! Trust me!
Trust him to prop up some industry for a few years and then stop, telling them to either swim or sink!
Mulcair has said dozens of time that the TPP is a complete no-go if he gets to be PM! He stated over and over that he will not feel bound to honour the Harper TPP agreement! Scratch the TPP!
Trudeau has said that the Liberals are traditionally pro trade as trade is vital to ensure our standard of living! He stated that he has to see the full text FIRST! He will decide whether or not it is acceptable or if amendments have to be made in order to protect our vital interests!
He will also seek input from all the provincial premiers and other stakeholders!
This is the thoughtful approach that Canadians expect from their government!
Any other interpretation is invalid and pure political nonsense!
PrinceGeorge, you state that Trudeau has to see the full text FIRST and he will then decide if it is acceptable or if amendments have to be made in order to protect our vital interests!
I would suggest that Stephen Harper and our Conservative Government has already been involved from the get go in the process that has resulted in the creation of the TPP. Our Government and it’s negotiators have been a party to the negotiations, have already seen the full text and have already decided whether or not it is acceptable or if amendments have be made in order to protect our interests!
So, what would Trudeau have to offer? I suggest nothing, nothing at all!
Mulcair? Who cares? He’s yesterday’s news!
Hart guy, after the Duffy affair and the circumventing of responsibility, after the reneging on the beetle money, loading the Senate with Con yes people in spite of other promises made, and so forth (I won’t bother to make a list which would too long for posting here) it is a stretch to ask me to simply TRUST Harper and his government. I have never had a bigger distrust of any politician than the one I have for Harper.
Ever since Mulroney admitting to taking 120k in large bills in a paper bag from a hustler the name Conservative rings an alarm bell in my mind. I know Harper had nothing to do with that except that he erected a protective legal wall for the Mulroney inquiry.
As for Trudeau, you are wrong. Correct about Mulcair, though.
You know PrinceGeorge, I kind of see it your way too. Mulroney was kinda of okay 1st time, and then became super arrogant second term. I think Harper is suffering the same fate. I think he’s done a decent job, but the mark of a true leader is someone who puts the good of others ahead of his own ambition. Harper, like Mulroney, right or wrong, has become toxic, and he should have stepped aside before this election for the good of his party, and Canada, but instead, has decided only he can save us. He might be right, but if you’re not electable you can’t save anyone. Bill Vander Zalm suffered the same delusion and wiped out the Socred party. Hopefully the Cons can wander in the opposition for a few years and come back refreshed.
We don’t need the TPP for trade. We have free trade deals with all the major first world countries in the deal save Japan. For the third world countries we have the WTO and if they haven’t yet ratified the WTO then they are not a rules based trading nation to begin with.
This deal was negotiated by monopoly capital globalist for the globalist corporate agenda. It is a constitution for globalists that infringes on national sovereignty and our democratic rights. TPP is a national surrender of our nation and must be stopped IMO.
PrinceGeorge, after the Liberal Sponsorship AdScam scandal, after their failure to follow through on their Red Book promises, after their election of a loser drama teacher as leader and now after Bruce Carson’s illegal lobbying, I just can’t trust Trudeau’s Liberals!
eagle, Canada as a trading nation cannot be on the outside of the TTP. Period. You need to get over your phobia of trade.
The TPP has very little to do with free trade. It is not primarily about abolish tariff barriers and that sort of thing. It is about giving privileges to large corporations.
Ski51, I agree with your assessment of the situation. The Liberal party of old has gone through its convulsions and spent time in the political wilderness to serve its sentence dealt by the public. The Liberal Party of today is different from the one before.
A statement was made on opinion250 at the beginning of the campaign that we ought to forget what happened before 2015 and deal with the here and now in 2015! So NOW we have a Liberal Party that has gone through the fire and rose from the ashes as a party with a new young leader with admirable ideals and respect for democracy and human rights! To hold against him and his party grudges because of previously broken promises and missteps made by others is very unfair!
Those who want to continue in the manner of Harper can vote for his party and suffer the consequences.
Those who are tired of all the *stuff* that has been handed to us can vote for the new Liberals and a new leader!
Well, here’s some very interesting news! Apparently, “today, Justin and Tommy Boy were invited by Prime Minister Harper to go over the details of the Trans Pacific Partnership.
But guess what….they refused!
Yup, after all the bitching and moaning and crying and complaining and whining and badmouthing how ‘secret’ this agreement is, the two biggest hypocrites in Canada have refused to look at it.”
Go figure!
Really Hart Guy. Three days before the election and Harper knows he will no longer be PM on Monday, so he pulls a desperation attempt to muzzle the other two leaders with a non-disclosure agreement prior to allowing them access to a summery of the agreement edited by his ministers… and you call them hypocrites?
A real leader would have included them in the discussions from day one, furthermore a real leader would have included them after the writ was dropped and he no longer had a mandate to decide on his own what would be negotiated and signed prior to citizens of this country having their say at the ballot box.
Harper is the hypocrite manipulating for his own gain right to the very last day.
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