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BC Secretly Rolling Over on Euro Trade Pact: Dix

NDP leader says province's negotiators are 'most willing to sell out municipalities.'

By Andrew MacLeod, 26 Oct 2011, TheTyee.ca

Adrian Dix, BC Leadership Convention 2011, speech

Deal makers are 'selling out': B.C. New Democrat Leader Adrian Dix.

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British Columbia has been active in negotiations towards a trade agreement between Canada and the European Union, but won't consult the public on it until things are further along, said Pat Bell, British Columbia's minister for jobs, tourism and innovation.

"I'm anticipating we will still do that, it's just unclear what we're consulting on at this point," said Bell.

B.C. New Democratic Party Leader Adrian Dix said that while Canadian negotiators have been secretive about their positions, they appear to be selling out the public interest with the B.C. government's eager participation.

Negotiators met in Ottawa last week for a ninth round of talks on the proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). While negotiations started a few years ago, in recent rounds, Canadian provinces, whose interests are affected, have been at the table.

"B.C. continues to be active at the table around the CETA agreement," said Bell. "There's a few key areas that are very important from our perspective. Certainly, our supply managed industries we're very sensitive about. That's the dairy industries, poultry industries, those sorts of industries."

Municipalities, as reported on The Tyee in July, have concerns, too. "The ability for municipalities to make sure they can protect their interests over what they have to tender out, and of course water is a huge one for us as well," said Bell.

Consultations promised

Last spring, Premier Christy Clark promised there would be public consultations on the CETA. Responding to a question from New Democratic Party Leader Adrian Dix during debate of the budget for her office, Clark said, "There will be, I'm told, consultation on this agreement. There will be many avenues for the public's input."

She later told The Tyee that people were welcome to contact her through the government's website regarding the CETA.

The NDP filed an FOI request with the premier's office for any and all records regarding consultations on the CETA, but received a response saying no such records were located despite a thorough search having been conducted.

Bell said he has consulted extensively with the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) on the agreement, and a wider public consultation is likely ahead if it looks like the agreement will succeed.

"[It's] unclear to us where the CETA agreements are going," he said. "Certainly lots of controversy going on in Europe, so lots of questions whether this will be completed or not. It's important for us to be at the table."

The minister's comments echo what Don White, the executive director of the trades initiative branch of the ministry, told a UBCM workshop at the end of September. "We're hoping this is the beginning of a dialogue," he said. "There are some difficult negotiations ahead. This is by no means an assured agreement."

White also told the meeting that Canada had been willing to go further than negotiators expected to allow European companies to bid on local government projects in Canadian municipalities.

Tyee reporter Colleen Kimmett asked White, "When you said the EU was surprised by Canada's ambitious procurement offer, are you saying Canada essentially offered more in terms of procurement than the EU was expecting to get?"

"I think that would be fair to say," said White.

B.C. position 'ambitious'

In June, Clark told The Tyee the province was still working out its positions as the eighth round of talks got underway and couldn't state them publicly.

Other accounts have suggested B.C. has strong positions and is pursuing them aggressively. In August, Postmedia quoted Jason Langrish, the executive director of the Canada Europe Roundtable for Business, saying, "B.C. has been the most ambitious of all the provinces in the CETA negotiations."

That former premier Gordon Campbell, known as a supporter of open markets and free trade, was going to be at the table would demonstrate to the Europeans that the provinces are committed to the CETA, Langrish said.

"What we have is a federal government that seems to want an agreement at all costs, selling out the interests of provincial governments and municipal governments," said B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix. European negotiators have let the public know much more about their positions than the Canadians have about theirs, he said.

The Huffington Post last week reported that a member of the European Parliament said the EU was likely to gain more than Canada will from the negotiations.

Public left in dark until too late: CUPE researcher

There's no way to know what the Canadian government is offering in the negotiations, or what B.C. has agreed to in its submissions to the federal government, said Blair Redlin, a researcher with the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

"Why is it Canadians shouldn't have some information about what we're offering up?" he asked.

The negotiations and any resulting agreement affect the interests of not just provinces and municipalities, but also school boards, hospital boards, universities and Crown corporations, he said. If the services under discussion include things like health care, water or the mail service, an agreement could have a huge effect, he said.

"This deal has the potential to dramatically reshape the policy landscape in Canada," he said. "I think it's fair and reasonable to tell us what they're preparing to offer."

Consulting after an agreement is reached, as B.C.'s Bell has said will happen, is insufficient, Redlin said. "One would think you would consult prior to concluding a deal," he said.

If they don't consult until after it's signed, they'll no doubt claim it can't be changed, he said. "That's not any meaningful consultation. That's a sales job."

From what's on the public record, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appears to have found a willing accomplice with the B.C. government, said Dix. They've been willing to take positions on prescription drug patents and government procurement that favour the Europeans, he said.

Dix characterized B.C. as "the most willing province to sell out municipal interests of any in the country" and said, "B.C.'s been driving for an agreement against the interests of British Columbia.... Clearly B.C. has put the interests of its ideologues ahead of protecting the public interest in B.C."

[Follow the link for more Tyee reporting on Politics.] [Tyee]

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee's Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.

30 Comments:

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  • Fiat lux

    30 weeks ago

    Mulroney was elected on an

    Mulroney was elected on an anti "free trade" platform. I still have all his statements. Two days after the '84 elections, he was on the plane to see Reagan and came back a confirmed "free trader".

    All the FTA negotiations, texts and progress have been open to the public, large volumes given away on request.

    The public didn't like what they saw, but Mulroney was reelected with a 43% "majority", which was still higher than Harper's 39%.

    What they have learned from the FTA experience was that now all the negotiations have since in secret, the public is held in the dark and in contempt.

    In other words, democracy is dead, long live the free movement of capital to colonize, enslave and rule.

    Chretien signed the NAFTA, including the criminal Chapter 11, without any public consultations. Harper is now going wild selling off whatever remains of Canadian decision making and independence, to establish the long dreamed global, corporate dictatorship. In the name of "jobs, jobs, jobs" and "efficiency", of course.

    So, what happens if the EU breaks up ?

    Why has the word "protectionism" become dirty, when most of our lives are spent on protecting ourselves and families?

    Why is the government buying God only knows, how many billions worth of jets to "protect" the interests of a criminal ruling class?

    In short, all these "free trade agreements" are lies that have little or nothing to do with real trade, and are nothing more that criminal conspiracies to enslave the world.

    The politicians who negotiate and support them are either ignorant fools, or criminals.

    Ed Deak.

  • Dan the socialist

    30 weeks ago

    To bad Canada is a nation of

    To bad Canada is a nation of sheep and takes this lying down..

  • danneau

    30 weeks ago

    When Ignorance Is Not Bliss

    This is one of the major causes of the discontent leading to the Occupy movement, that so much is done to citizens without their informed consent, both through government secrecy and through dedicated press organs supportive of that secrecy. A mostly apolitical friend of mine put it pretty succinctly last summer in the midst of a fishing session that he was tired of all the bull and of being lied to, thereby expressing much of the frustration engendered by events like the negotiation of trade treaties and the suborning of the justice system.

  • Van Isle

    30 weeks ago

    Are our political elite

    Are our political elite thinking, like some Greek political elite, a decade ago? Join the European Union and our economic woes will disappear? Why can't we see what's happening with all these 'Free Trade agreements' around the world and how the Global economic system is getting worse and worse.

  • Fiat lux

    30 weeks ago

    These free trade agreements

    These free trade agreements have little, or nothing to do with trade, but with the establishment of a worldwide dictatorship.

    This has been predicted 25 years ago, and I have all the proofs in my files. Nobody has done anything to stop them, again on the advice of miseducated and bought economists.

    Why do people put up with these crimes in a supposed democracy ?

    Ed Deak

  • Frank

    30 weeks ago

    Free trade with Europe!

    It worked so well for Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Britain...

  • Frank Lee

    30 weeks ago

    Dix is full of it

    I am not sure what European suppliers can competitively supply to our local governments that would help them do their job more cheaply and efficiently, but they are welcome to try.

    As for what Dix can do --besides taxing British Columbians more --I am at a loss to see it. Apparently he is too, because there is no clearly spelled out plan.

    Just pure, empty politics, by which opposition parties curry favour with municipalities. It could be the NDP in the late 1980s, the Liberals in the late 90s...or the NDP again.

    "They've been willing to take positions on prescription drug patents and government procurement that favour the Europeans, [Dix] said."

    What sheer, utter, empty rubbish.

  • A Voice

    30 weeks ago

    Typical

    Govt secrecy, and more oppurtunity to sell our our public interests to thier buddies and business partners. These criminals are selling off our resources without remorse, as long as it pads their back pocket, how about this...Canadians FIRST, at what it costs, then the rest to the world at MARKET rates. Why, if it is our own resouces, should we have to pay world market rates?
    ITS OURS, FOR CHRISTSAKES!!
    Do we want to see our future go the way the oil industry is is screwing us?

  • Skywalker

    30 weeks ago

    Right on Fiat Lux!

    It is quite clear that Adrian Dix has more smarts than Christy Clark. Imagine her having to discuss and issue like this. She might sound like Frank Lee.

    Not that many years ago the WTO was having secret discussions on a global harmonization of trade laws. I think it was called the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. Somebody blew the whistle on the scam and it was dropped. Is this the same scam in different form?

  • Luck

    30 weeks ago

    euro trade sucks

    FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW,

    WHEN YOU JOIN EURO TRADE YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING AND FOLLOW ANOTHER LEADER.

    SUPPORT THE 99% WHO CAN AND WILL TAKE BACK CONTROL.

    WE DO NOT WANT THE 1% MAKING ANY DEALS LIKE THIS OR ANY DEAL PERIOD WITHOUT CONSULTATION WITH THE PEOPLE.

    LIBERAL GOV IS IN DEBT BIG TIME AND WILL DO ANYTHING LIKE A DOPE ADDICTION TO GET THE MAGIC BULLET.

    THERE AINT KNOW MAGIC BULLET.

    TALK TO THE PEOPLE OF BC AND WORK IT OUT.

  • motorcycleguy

    30 weeks ago

    European suppliers will be aggressive

    Frank Lee needs to look at only one of many, many European companies that would be interested in competition at the municipal leve. Veolia is but one example in the water distribution field.

    http://www.veolia.com/en/

  • To the point

    30 weeks ago

    Consultation

    Bell tells us they are consulting with the union of BC municipalities. How short of a memory to these people think we have. Just last month the union of BC municipalities passed a resolution and this very government said we don't care what you say we are doing this anyway. So they'll talk to us and if we agree it's okay if we don't to bad so sad you get it anyway. Call the election now. Have a referendum on the smart meter. get rid of these bought and paid for politicians that could care less about British Colombians.

  • rollandmiller

    30 weeks ago

    Euro Trade with Canada - Secret

    After all that is going on over not being consulted, our Governments are dong it again.

    The Canadian electorate must be consulted on any Trade Pact.

    Gone are the days when this can be done in secrecy; that is why the occupation movement is occuring.

    We demand open public consultation now!

  • on ways to pleasure

    30 weeks ago

    re: Canada is a nation of....

    the silence of the lambs! It is not taking us to the better future. What we need is a campaign size of anti-HST. So far, has local 'Occupy' touched anyone? no, because a bunch of students blocking an intersection only bothers the police and drivers, not the government.
    Any ideas who could lead a real protest against the pimps?

  • pumpkin eater

    30 weeks ago

    liberal ways

    Typical Liberal ways of doing things,secretly do, without any public consultation,then once they have made their dirty plans and it is to late to do anything about it, they spring it on the public.Then wonder why it blows up in their face.Just like the HST among many other things this government has forced upon our Province.

  • kootenay

    30 weeks ago

    Occupy

    Occupy only works if the people actually participate.

    Until we're prepared to occupy all of our capital cities in massive numbers and shut this country down, nothing will change, absolutely nothing.

    The rest of the world has shown us how the Occupy movement works, we just have to get pissed off enough to make it effective.

    I think I'm finally begining to understand Coyote. If we want our country back, we are going to have to take it back, and it isn't going to be easy.

  • Frank Lee

    30 weeks ago

    re: European suppliers will be aggressive

    Veolia looks great. Of course, it will be a challenge for some Canadian company to meet that kind of competition.

    Which is the point!

  • Frank Lee

    30 weeks ago

    Re: Dix's Smarts vs. Christy Clark

    I have met Dix a dozen times and have followed his career closely. He is not exceptionally intelligent. But of course a quarter-century in provincial politics has made him knowledgeable about a number of issues--although through a heavily filtered political lens.

    He is probably more knowledgeable and less shallow than Christy Clark, however. But that is not saying very much. And it does not mean that he will make a better premier. The issue is which of these two unpalatable figures--the Hollow Man or the Shallow WOman--will do less harm. I will still put my money on Clark. (And vote either Green or Independent).

  • Skywalker

    30 weeks ago

    No Frank Lee

    The issue is really "BC Secretly Rolling Over on Euro Trade Pact" and what Dix is saying about it. You simply stated that he "is full of it". So while I appreciate your toned down comment, I still don't know what you think of "BC Secretly Rolling Over on Euro Trade Pact"?

  • RickOshea

    30 weeks ago

    You, Me, and the SPP

    Watch this documentary (http://www.youmespp.com/)

    Given the way the division of powers (national/provincial) is constituted in Canada, the feds cannot legally deliver on a lot of the 'free trade' concessions (sell-outs) foreign interests insist on getting from the junior partners - the position Canada is always in... Hence TILMA - the missing piece in the NAFTA/free trade sell-out.

    But now that TILMA is in place - the Municipalities probably have no legal rights in this regard.

    Sucks to be in the bottom 99%.

  • Fiat lux

    30 weeks ago

    Typical example of "Wealth

    Typical example of "Wealth can not be created only taken"

    If wealth could be created we wouldn't have crime, wars and political pimps in the service of their masters, delivering their peoples on a platter.

    Ed Deak.

  • willey

    30 weeks ago

    Ed Deak

    Where to I get my grey coveralls. And please send a number stencil for the front and back.

  • Frank Lee

    30 weeks ago

    Thanks for asking, sorry for digressing

    The provinces have an important consultative role in trade negotiations, since they are needed to implement any treaties that are signed, and because the broadening agenda of international trade is increasingly intruding upon provincial policy space (e.g. services).

    Overall I would agree with Chris Kukucha, who in "The Provinces and Canadian Foreign Trade Policy" (UBC Press 2008) concluded that "Even when provincial executives have taken a direct interest in trade policy, such as in Ontario and BC during NAFTA negotiations, there is no evidence that this has had a significant impact on Canada's or its negotiating position. Overall, the political executive limits itself to trade promotion, crisis events and politically relevant trade disputes." (p.80).

    Specifically, a Dix NDP government would likely have no more impact on government procurement or drug patents than the Harcourt, Clark or Rae NDP governments did in the 1990s.

    Is BC "secretly favouring Europeans" on these issues--i.e. failing to make the right kinds of noise, even if that noise is only marginally effective? Only if you assume that anything that affirms what European drug companies already have in terms of patent protection, and which might allow European firms to bid whenever services are put out to private tender is bad for British Columbia--even it is done in exchange for access to the largest, richest market in the world.

    It is important to remember in this regard that nothing commits municipal governments to put services out to private tender--it only says that if they do, they must not discriminate between trading partners (I don't know if it extends to national treatment, because I haven't seen the treaty).

    I do worry that Harper is a little too anxious to make a deal--as Mulroney was when he agreed to Chapter 11 and Harper was when he capitulated on softwood lumber-- but I don't think that the BC government is having a big impact one way or the other.

  • Frank Lee

    30 weeks ago

    P.S.

    It is possible that the BC government should be voicing UBCM concerns about the costs of compliance and monitoring with services trade agreements and government procurement, domestic regulation, etc. But i don't know that the BC government has failed to do that. I am sure that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has expressed this concern to the Trade ministry.

    So I am not sure what Mr. Dix means by a secret roll-over.

  • doggone

    30 weeks ago

    Nothing on CBC.BC

    Ain't that funny!
    If one does not read Thetyee there are endless items about "Pig Farms" and some incedents where - who knows: maybe an hiker was found or lost
    Humm?

  • Fiat lux

    30 weeks ago

    F Capitalism is the

    F

    Capitalism is the astounding belief that

    the most wickedest of men

    will do the most wickedest of things

    for the greatest good of everyone.

    John Maynard Keynes

  • zalm

    30 weeks ago

    FRank Lee

    "Veolia looks great. Of course, it will be a challenge for some Canadian company to meet that kind of competition"

    What's wrong with planning a water project municipally, hiring a construction manager, getting bids, and building and operating the project ourselves? Isn't that cheaper than paying profit on absolutely everything including the operations?

    I think we certainly found that out with Abbotsford Hospital.

  • MacKenna

    30 weeks ago

    Christy's neocons need to be tossed, the sooner the better.

    What will it take for BC to wake up and smell the erosion of our democracy, our social safety net, our security, our sovereignty, OUR JOBS. Christy Clark is Gordon Campbell in a skirt. Her priority is not the working people, or the citizens of this province, only the profiteers.

  • BG

    29 weeks ago

    Ever since the corporations

    Ever since the corporations almost had their free trade deal with the U.S. derailed by a democratic election, free trade deals have been negotiated in secret.

    Now we've got trade with China. There was no debate, referendum or election held on that issue because that might have interfered with it. Corporate profits have soared as have factory closures, outsourcing and government debt. Now we're told that corporate taxes must be continually slashed otherwise corporations will flee to friendly dictatorships like China.

    The corporations have taken over the government. That's been the largest corporate takeover.

  • igbymac

    29 weeks ago

    It's this ridiculous Party squabbling

    or more specifically, the bickering between Parties which have the same general objectives of expanding capitalism.

    When I read such comments as "It is quite clear that Adrian Dix has more smarts than Christy Clark", I can only chuckle at the blindness of the Party faithful.

    With neither side having the answers because neither side has a clear vision of our social problems which cannot be answered with capitalist fundamentals, its like 'watching two bald men fighting over a comb'.

    CETA has been a public concerns for years, and Maude Barlow has been fighting to bring it to our attention the entire while. Where have we been?

    Typically, this Trade Agreement has little to do with the people or free trade of commodities, and much to do with providing legal protections and rights to international corporations. Enjoy the conservatism coming to your town. All in the name of 'freedom', of course.

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