In response to a proposed resolution from Coun. Roger Kishi, the Village of Cumberland will request the province to negotiate a clear, permanent exemption for local governments from the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
According to the Council of Canadians, Canada has "much to lose and little to gain" from the deal, which it says is about deregulation, privatization and increasing corporate investment rights.
The resolution also requests:
• A briefing from government on the scope and content of trade negotiations with the European Union;
• The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) provide a sector-by-sector analysis of potential impacts on municipal functions and powers of procurement regime the union is seeking;
• The FCM urge the federal government not to provide the union with access to subnational government procurement.
The resolution will be forwarded to Vancouver Island North MP John Duncan, Comox Valley MLA Don McRae, the FCM and the Union of BC Municipalities for consideration and response.