To the Editor:
There has been some discussion in your paper about the Canada European Free Trade Agreement (CETA). The Centre for Civic Governance (CCG) last year commissioned the law firm of Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP to provide a legal opinion of this agreement. Mr. Steven Shrybman, a lawyer with the firm, submitted a 22 page report to the centre. The Executive Director of CCG, Ms. Charley Beresford stated the following in her introductory letter to the report, “The EU has made specific requests for full access to public procurement in cities across Canada, including the right of European multinational corporations to bid on core municipal services, such as public transit systems, water services and wastewater treatment. The leaked CETA documents explicitly propose that environmental and local economic development considerations be excluded as factors in procurement decisions and the deal would open up opportunities for corporations who don’t get their way to tie municipalities up with expensive legal challenges”.
I would like to thank all those across the riding who gave me positive feedback on the CETA information I have sent out. For those interested, I will be co-hosting a CETA Forum together with the Council of Canadians on February 11 at 7:30P p.m. at the Nelson United Church.
Our featured guest will be Peter Julian, NDP International Trade critic.
Alex Atamanenko, MP, BC Southern Interior