Farmers' Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA

The below resolution is shelf ready!

The FARMERS’ RESOLUTION (passed by hundreds of farm groups; see post) would list water (HCCS Tariff Item 22.01) as one of the exempted items in:

Annex 301.3 Section A - Canadian Measures

Canada’s list of specific goods that are exempt from Article 301 (National Treatment) and 309 (Export Restrictions) of the goods sections of the NAFTA (includes “export of logs of all species” and “unprocessed fish” from the Maritimes.)

The FARMERS’ RESOLUTION would list water (HCCS Tariff Item 22.01) as one of the exempted items in:

Annex II Schedule of Canada …sets out pursuant to Articles 1108(3) Investment and 1206(3) Cross Border Trade in Services, the reservations taken by that Party with respect to specific sectors, sub-sectors or activities for which it may maintain existing or adopt new or more restrictive, measures that do not conform with obligations imposed by... [the Investment and Trade in Services provisions, including National Treatment]

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Farmers' Resolution to

Exempt Water from the NAFTA

List of farm organizations who have passed this resolution.

The bad news is that water is included in the FTA and the NAFTA.
The good news is that there is a fix,
and that Canada's farmers have already done a lot of the work to get us there.

The Farmers' Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA (BELOW)
- signed by over 200 farm organizations from across Canada -
is shelf ready for Canadians to pick up, loft to shoulder height and use
to effectively reclaim the public interest in this critical policy discussion...

The Farmers’ Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA is a Canada-wide, farmer-led campaign to develop farm “voice” and farm “authority” in a critical public policy dialogue: the retention of national sovereignty over Canada’s water resources.

It is not "anti-NAFTA". Nor is it "anti-exports". It is simply "pro-Canadian". It is about retaining Canada's sovereign right to make decisions for and by communities with respect to water use. In perpetuity.

Prior to the signing of the FTA and the NAFTA, Canadians were assured by our Federal Government that Canadian sovereignty over our water resources remained uncompromised. Turns out, it was: any time water is licensed and withdrawn by a US firm - or a firm with US investors - NAFTA rights attach.

Water’s inclusion in the NAFTA means “hands-off” to Canadian public policy any time there is a US commercial interest in Canada’s water. From an irrigation project in southern Saskatchewan to the use of water for hydroelectric generation to "water flooding" in the oil patch, US interests in Canada’s water are facilitated and protected by NAFTA. No such protection exists for Canadians.

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This initiative arose in response to decisions taken at a gathering of Canadian farmers
- 11th Delegation, Canada Cuba Farmer to Farmer Project -
in the Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba in March of 2002.

Published Columns and Articles:

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RESOLUTION - ENGLISH

FARMERS’ RESOLUTION TO EXEMPT WATER FROM THE NAFTA

WHEREAS Canadian food security depends on water,

AND WHEREAS the NAFTA compromises Canada’s control over this vital resource,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the members of the _________________________ (farm organization) stand together with farmers and farm organizations from across Canada in calling on the Government of Canada to immediately:

secure an explicit exemption for water under the goods, services and investment provisions of the NAFTA and the FTA;
place a moratorium on any new water export initiatives until such an exemption is in place; and
secure an explicit exclusion for water and water related services under the General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS, the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) and all subsequent agreements related to international trade.

Signature: _______________________________Position: _____________________ (eg. Secretary)

Particulars: _______________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Once passed by your membership, return this resolution to Wendy R. Holm, P.Ag., RR #1, HP-8, Bowen Island, BC. V0N 1G0. Please include the name and address of a contact person for your group and a short profile of your membership (number of farmers, etc.). <www.wendyholm.ca>, wendy@wendyholm.com, 604.947.2893.

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RESOLUTION - FRENCH

RÉSOLUTION DES AGRICULTEURS EN VUE DE SOUSTRAIRE L’EAU DE L’ALENA

ATTENDU QUE la sécurité alimentaire du Canada tient à son approvisionnement en eau,

ET ATTENDU QUE l’ALENA compromet le contrôle qu’exerce le Canada sur cette ressource vitale.

IL EST PAR CONSÉQUENT RÉSOLU QUE les membres de ____________________ s’unissent à des agriculteurs et à des organisations agricoles de toutes les régions du Canada afin d’exhorter le gouvernement du Canada à intervenir sans tarder dans le but de :

1. obtenir une exemption explicite de l’eau des dispositions relatives aux biens, services et investissements de l’ALENA et de l’ALÉ;

2. imposer un moratoire à l’égard de toutes nouvelles initiatives d’exportation d’eau tant que cette exemption n’aura pas été obtenue;

3. obtenir une exclusion explicite relativement à l’eau et aux services liés à l’eau en vertu de l’Accord général sur le commerce des services (AGCS), de l’Accord de libre échange des Amériques (ALÉ) et de tout accord ultérieur en matière de commerce international.

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Farmers' Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA

Annex 301.3 Section A - Canadian Measures