Williams Talks Tough on Canada / EU Trade Discussions
A press release was issued by Newfoundland and Labrador premier, Danny Williams, on Friday outlines his province’s concerns with plans for a new Canadian / EU Trade Agreement and withdraws his province’s support for upcoming negotiations by Ottawa.
The release states that, “While Newfoundland and Labrador fully supports improved trade with the European Union, any actions taken in that regard must address priority areas of concern for the province. In particular, the province is extremely hesitant to allow the Federal Government to head these negotiations, given past actions that question their commitment to issues of importance to the province.”
It goes on to say that "At this point, we are not willing to sign on to support the negotiation of a new and comprehensive economic agreement with the European Union.”
“This decision should not be confused with a lack of support for an improved trade relationship between Canada and Europe. Indeed, Newfoundland and Labrador values and respects its trade relations with Europe which have existed with the province for over 5 centuries…However, other concerns prevent the province from giving unqualified support for the Canadian Government’s process as it moves forward
"The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is unable to support this at this time on the basis of very genuine concerns that our province’s issues may not be safeguarded or dealt with in an appropriate way by the Federal Government.”
“In particular, long standing issues such as custodial management of our fishery, a proposed ban on seal products into the EU and prohibitive tariffs on seafood products entering the EU represent significant issues of concern that have been left unaddressed by the Federal Government for far too long.
Newfoundland and Labrador has not received any assurances that a Canada-EU agreement would include protection for measures such as the Atlantic Accords and Fish Inspection Act. Additionally, a track record of a lack of substantive and inclusive consultation on federal-provincial issues gives Newfoundland and Labrador great cause for concern, particularly in light of the far reaching implications of a possible Canada-EU trade agreement."
The official press release comes at a time when Newfoundland and Labrador is being challenged under NAFTA for the expropriation of provincial timber and hydro leases once held by U.S. registered paper maker Abitibi-Bowater.
It’s difficult to determine whether the province’s position on Canada / EU trade carries any real weight in Ottawa or not since it is the federal government that is ultimately responsible for international trade agreements. However the position taken by the Province serves to highlight a number of important issues for the province on both the national and international stage.
While the federal government does not officially need provincial support to enter into international trade agreements, actually making them work without the support of all the provinces is a problem.
Any agreement signed by Ottawa cannot infringe on provincial jurisdiction or legislative abilities.
A clear example of this can be seen in the case of the Abitibi-Bowater expropriation itself.
Newfoundland and Labrador has the legal right to expropriate the resources in question. It is up to Ottawa to defend the action under the NAFTA agreement and, should Canada lose that challenge, it will ultimately be the federal government, not the province, which is required to pay any penalties imposed.
10 comments:
This move, by our very capable and astute Premier will prove to be the most audacious and most needed move since the province of Newfoundland and Labrador became part of Confederation, by hook or by crook.
Being part of Canada certainly wasn't a desire or a dream which was present at the time in the hearts of Newfoundlanders and Labordians, but instead at the time it was a dream of Ottawa/Canada for 80 years up to 1949 and it was successful in fulfilling the dream due to manipulations.
This move by Premier Williams should never have been necessary, since the Terms of Union should have been drawn up properly by Canada to protect our province, but since they stole our Nation, so cunningly, everything was in their hands and they drew up the Terms of Unions on Ottawa's terms, and our newly minted province was left out of the loop, and we have suffered economically and every other way for 60 years. And despite our mother lode of natural resources which Mother Nature so well endowed us with combined with a great geographic location, which could have accommodated a manufacturing industry which could have rivalled anything in the World. As we know in 1949, just short years after the Second World War, the whole Western World was set to burst forth economically and it did, but unfortunately the country of Newfoundland and Labrador didn't become part of that economic expansion, beacuse Ottawa knew just when to grab it, and it knew full well that it was not taking on a libility, (the template had been set for World Economic Expansion), but instead it was taking on a Mother lode of resources and a great location which would fuel the country of Canada's economic expansion, excluding the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
As far as I am concerned Ottawa should be brought to task for everything which has gone on relating to the moves it made in 1949 regarding Newfoundland and Labrador. Now who is audacious enough to bring that to the table?
This move, by our very capable and astute Premier will prove to be the most audacious and most needed move since the province of Newfoundland and Labrador became part of Confederation, by hook or by crook.
Being part of Canada certainly wasn't a desire or a dream which was present at the time in the hearts of Newfoundlanders and Labordians, but instead at up til that time it had been a dream of Ottawa on behalf of Canada for 80 years up to 1949 and it was successful in fulfilling the dream due to manipulations.
This move by Premier Williams should never have been necessary, since the Terms of Union should have been drawn up properly and honesly by Ottawa to protect our province, but since they stole our Nation, so cunningly, everything was in their hands and they drew up the Terms of Unions on Ottawa's terms, and our newly minted province was left out of the loop. As a result Newfoundlanders and Labradorins have suffered economically and in every other way for 60 years. And despite our mother lode of natural resources which Mother Nature so well endowed Newfoundland and Labrador with, combined with a great geographic location, which combined could have accommodated a manufacturing industry which could have rivalled anything built since in the World. As we know in 1949, just short years after the Second World War, the whole Western World was set to burst forth economically and it did, but unfortunately the country of Newfoundland and Labrador didn't become part of that economic expansion, beacuse Ottawa knew the opportune time when to grab it, and it knew full well that it was not taking on a libility, (the template had been set for World Economic Expansion), but instead it was taking on a Mother lode of resources and a great location which would fuel the country of Canada's economic expansion, excluding the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
As far as I am concerned Ottawa should be brought to task for everything which has gone on relating to the moves it made in 1949 regarding Newfoundland and Labrador.
Now who is audacious enough to bring that to the table?
This move, by our very capable and astute Premier will prove to be the most audacious and most needed move since the province of Newfoundland and Labrador became part of Confederation, by hook or by crook.
Being part of Canada certainly wasn't a desire or a dream which was present at the time in the hearts of Newfoundlanders and Labordians, but instead at up til that time it had been a dream of Ottawa on behalf of Canada for 80 years up to 1949 and it was successful in fulfilling the dream due to manipulations.
This move by Premier Williams should never have been necessary, since the Terms of Union should have been drawn up properly and honesly by Ottawa to protect our province, but since they stole our Nation, so cunningly, everything was in their hands and they drew up the Terms of Unions on Ottawa's terms, and our newly minted province was left out of the loop. As a result Newfoundlanders and Labradorins have suffered economically and in every other way for 60 years. And despite our mother lode of natural resources which Mother Nature so well endowed Newfoundland and Labrador with, combined with a great geographic location, which combined could have accommodated a manufacturing industry which could have rivalled anything built since in the World. As we know in 1949, just short years after the Second World War, the whole Western World was set to burst forth economically and it did, but unfortunately the country of Newfoundland and Labrador didn't become part of that economic expansion, beacuse Ottawa knew the opportune time when to grab it, and it knew full well that it was not taking on a libility, (the template had been set for World Economic Expansion), but instead it was taking on a Mother lode of resources and a great location which would fuel the country of Canada's economic expansion, excluding the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
As far as I am concerned Ottawa should be brought to task for everything which has gone on relating to the moves it made in 1949 regarding Newfoundland and Labrador.
Now who is audacious enough to bring that to the table?
This is excellent!
It's about time someone took on the international fishing issues. Ottawa won't do it so why not.
It bothers me that this was released at the end of the day on Friday. I wonder if it's really something of importance or just rhetoric for local consumption.
If it was a "major" statement why not do it during the week and make sure it got plenty of news cycles?
It could be just an attempt by the provincial government to change the channel to something besides the nurses or some complaints about where stimulus money is going.
Who knows. I hope its for real and I hope it rattles a few cages upalong.
From the Canadian Press:
Notice the last sentence. It says a lot.
"...Williams said Monday night it's hard to support such an agreement with issues like the EU planning to ban seal products, and matters including high fish tariffs and foreign overfishing.
The premier said it's also hard to imagine that Ottawa would act in his province's best interests in any negotiations.
However, Jason Langrish of the Canada Europe Roundtable for Business says he believes the problems can be resolved.
The EU has said it can't strike a deal without provincial government participation."
Good!!!!
If nothing else it shows the confusion, discussion and, hopefully, second guessing going on behind the scenes of this negotiation now that NLs issues have been brought forward.
That in itself is a good thing I believe.
Great article Myles. It should be interesting to see how this pans out.
I'm guessing the Mop and Pail will have a field day with this one.
Can you imagine how Mr. Williams will be portrayed by all in this statedment? Whoa! Can't wait for the mainland crowd to weigh in on this as well as the naysayer bloggers.
Let's try to parse the response to this coming out of the EU:
"The European Union and a Canadian business group said Williams's objections won't scuttle negotiations."
"The EU has said it can't strike a deal without provincial government participation."
"A European official said the overwhelming support of other provinces is good enough to justify ongoing talks."
These statements may sound contracictory but they really aren't.
What it seems to boil down to is that they feel they have a reason to keep talking because most of the provinces are onboard but, and here is the big BUT, they CANNOT reach a final deal unless ALL provinces sign on.
I read this as a major win in the NL column. If this is right, the federal government must find a way to get NLs support for this to go ahead.
It looks like Ottawa isn't the only place than can play hard ball.
Any statement that starts with "A European official said..." or "The European Union and a Canadian business group said..." are always open to scrutiny. Vague to say the least. When they start actually putting names of people or organizations in front of those statements, then there is some credibility.
I for one am really looking forward to how this pans out. Danny actually can affect a decision for a change. Steve must be going out of his mind.
Looks good on him.
Post a Comment