The City of Red Deer is joining more than 50 other municipalities, government associations and school boards seeking clarity on a future trade agreement between Canada and the European Union.
City council decided on Monday it needed more answers concerning the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA).
A staff report will come on June 25 as to whether it received enough information from Red Deer MP Earl Dreeshen and Ed Fast, federal minister of international trade. Coun. Cindy Jefferies, who sits on the Alberta Urban Municipalities Board, and Coun. Paul Harris, who is seeking re-election to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities board, would also seek more communication.
Coun. Tara Veer said it’s important to get more information, particularly when there are concerns over procurement.
This involves acquiring goods and services for the best possible cost and at the best possible time.
“Would the municipalities have choice over whether they could keep those services (like water) public?” Veer asked.
Coun. Dianne Wyntjes suggested the city should try and exempt itself out of the agreement pertaining to municipal matters. “This agreement, from what I’ve read, would put our services and decision making at risk,” said Wyntjes. “This trade agreement makes me question; where is the future of our public services, specifically those that we as municipalities provide?”
Wyntjes said the city staff report stated that a sub-national procurement process would take place around municipal activities including purchasing and the awarding of contracts, and impacts on how the city would spend public money.
“I am not anti-trade,” she added.
Ken Collier, chair of the local chapter of the Canadian Council of Canadians, said the request to get information is unnecessary. That’s because other agreements, including New West Partnership Trade Agreement involving B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan, saw government officials stonewall information as well, he said.
“Why you would ask those people to provide that information, I don’t understand,” said Collier, who attending Monday’s meeting.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada reports the agreement would not prevent Canada’s municipalities from sourcing goods and services locally. The ministry has also said municipalities will be able to adopt environmental or social criteria within the procurement process.
Jefferies said the amount of information available, even at the AUMA stage, is limited.
It’s hoped that councillors will hear more information during the upcoming annual FCM conference June 1-4 in Saskatoon.
Harris liked Wyntjes’ idea, adding that it’s important to send a strong message to Ottawa.
“We can always go back if the information comes back that meets our needs,” he said.
But city manager Craig Curtis said the city doesn’t know what it wants to be excluded from so it should wait to get the information first.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com