93.1 Water, Free Trade and NAFTA
[Whereas,] Rationale:
It is essential that Canadian sovereignty be maintained over domestic water resources. This is fundamental and crucial to the national ecological integrity and security, as well as the sustainable development of Canada’s agricultural sector and many other sectors that depend on water in its natural quality and quantity, such as fisheries, forestry, wildlife, domestic and industrial supply, power generation, and tourism.
The Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) specifically endorses “national treatment” regarding the trade of certain goods between Canada and the United States. However, the Agreement does not explicitly limit the inclusion of non-energy pipeline operations in the Services Chapter, indicating that water exports could be back on the table for negotiation.
RESOLVED:
That The National Council of Women of Canada urges the Government of Canada to:
- Resolve at the earliest opportunity the uncertainty surrounding the issues of water in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) through the execution of a separate and binding joint diplomatic agreement; and,
- Prohibit all water-related commitments except for the sale of bottled water in containers of 5 liters or less in size, under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).