Ottawa – The federal government should make its pursuit of international free trade agreements more transparent to the public and to parliamentarians, a Senate committee said in a report released Tuesday.

Free trade agreements remain essential to Canada’s economic well-being and they have been shown to spur innovation and efficiency. However, these agreements are not ends in themselves. A new approach that is more open to the public and that encourages greater public engagement will help negotiators to better represent Canadians’ interests.

In its report, Free Trade Agreements: A Tool for Economic Prosperity, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade makes nine recommendations to increase public involvement and parliamentary oversight of these agreements and to establish standards by which the success of an agreement would be measured.

The committee notes that free trade agreements benefit some and create challenges for others. The committee recommends that the government establish a formal consultation process for all Canadians when defining a negotiating mandate, and that the government identify measures that would mitigate any potentially adverse impacts of a trade agreement before ratification.

The government should also articulate the rationale for any given trade deal so Canadians and parliamentarians can assess whether the deal has met its objectives.

As free trade agreements do not guarantee success for Canadian businesses in the global marketplace, the committee recommends that the government ensure coordinated policies in relation to international and internal trade, innovation, infrastructure, education and other relevant sectors provide the economic foundation required by Canadian businesses and workers to maximize the potential benefits of these agreements.

Quick Facts

• The value of Canada’s exports and imports of goods and services is equivalent to more than 60% of the country’s gross domestic product.
• Approximately one out of five Canadian jobs are directly or indirectly related to exports.
• A free trade agreement with the Europe Union, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, is expected to enter into force this year. The committee will express its position on this agreement once it has studied the implementing legislation.

Quotes

“Free trade has proven to be of great benefit to the Canadian economy. The government’s approach to trade agreements, however, should give the public a greater voice in the trade agreement process. Our report shows how and why we should take this more transparent and inclusive approach; an approach that will continue to make free trade agreements tools of our economic prosperity.”

- Senator Raynell Andreychuk, Chair of the committee.

“There is currently little oversight of free trade negotiations — negotiations that can have significant ramifications for workers, business owners and the country at large. Our recommendations would oblige the government to be more accountable in its pursuit of trade deals and give Canadians greater involvement in the process to ensure negotiators truly represent their interests.”

- Senator Percy E. Downe, Deputy Chair of the committee.

Associated Links

• Read the report, Free Trade Agreements: A tool for economic prosperity.
• Follow the committee on social media using the hashtag #AEFA.

For more information, please contact:

Sonia Noreau
Media Relations Coordinator (Communications)
Senate of Canada
613-614-1180 | sonia.noreau@sen.parl.gc.ca