Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement

WHEREAS the government of Canada and the European Union have been negotiating a trade agreement known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement the CETA; AND WHEREAS the European Union and European corporations are insisting on full access to procurement by sub-national governments - including local governments, school boards, universities, hospitals and other provincial agencies - which could significantly reduce or eliminate the right to specify local priorities when public money is invested in goods, services or capital projects; AND WHEREAS Canadian local governments have expressed growing concerns with trade agreements and their potential impacts on local government programs and services and local autonomy; AND WHEREAS the BC government and other provincial governments have been actively involved in negotiating CETA with the European Union: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM request that the provincial government negotiate a clear, permanent exemption for local governments from CETA.