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It's Your Turn

Consulting Canadians

Others

2005

Canada-China Science and Technology Agreement

Closing date: October 31, 2005

The Government of Canada is seeking comments on a Science and Technology Agreement presently being negotiated with China. The principles embodied in the proposed agreement can be found in the Canada-China Joint Declaration on S&T cooperation.

Background

The February 2004 Speech from the Throne announced that more attention needed to be paid to "newly emerging economic giants such as India, China and Brazil". In addition, the International Policy Statement stated that access to the opportunities presented by the rapidly growing markets of China and India can be facilitated by strengthening our bilateral S&T relations and building alliances and partnerships in knowledge-based industries from the ground up. The Chinese and Indian governments consider international S&T Agreements to be vital instruments for strengthening relationships with other countries.

Hence, in January 2005, the Prime Minister signed Joint Declarations with both India and China that included a promise to pursue the strengthening of bilateral S&T relations. During Minister Peterson's visit to India in early April 2005, Canada and India signed a Joint Declaration indicating the intent to sign a S&T Agreement. In September, Canada and China also announced a similar Canada-China Joint Declaration.

Canada-China S&T Agreement

The Canada-China S&T Agreement is well advanced. The Canadian negotiating team visited Beijing on August 26 and more recently met with Chinese negotiators in Ottawa on October 11 and reached an agreement-in-principle on the text. Before the agreement is finalized, we are consulting provinces and territories as well as Canada's S&T community and other stakeholders, to ensure that Canadian interests and needs are fully embodied and protected in the Agreement.

The Agreement provides a framework for: R & D collaboration; facilitation of commercially viable research and development through industry-to-industry and university-to-industry technology partnerships; for researcher, scholar and graduate student visits and exchanges; for the organization of conferences, seminars and symposia; and, for exchanges of information. Also, we would like you to note that the agreement provides protection for Intellectual Property.

Please provide written comments to Dave Church, Deputy Director, Science and Technology Division at : dave.church@international.gc.ca (fax: (613) 944-2452) no later than October 31, 2005.

Useful Links

• ITCan's S&T Programs
• Canada's International S&T Network

2002

A Canadian Perspective on the Precautionary Approach/Principle

Following up on consultations with Canadians in 2001-2002, the Government has developed A Framework for the Application of Precaution in Science-based Decision Making about Risk.

This Framework outlines guiding principles for the application of precaution to science-based decision making in areas of federal regulatory activity for the protection of health and safety and the environment and the conservation of natural resources.

Departmental and agency officials are expected to consider its guiding principles in decision making and to work together in developing, in consultation with their stakeholders, guidance for the application of precaution in their particular area of responsibility.

You can contact us at: contact-pc-en.asp

November 2001
The government consulted Canadians on a discussion document outlining a Canadian perspective on what is the precautionary approach, why is it important, when does it apply, and how is it applied?

Background documents:

• Introduction
• Discussion Document (html or pdf)
  Outlines broad guiding principles to support consistent, credible and predictable policy and regulatory decision making when applying the precautionary approach/principle.
• Summary(html or pdf)
  Backgrounder on the precautionary approach/principle.
• Proposed Guiding Principles (html or pdf)
  Briefer exposé on the proposed guiding principles.

Canadian Citizens' Views on Trade with Least Developed Countries

Closing date: May 2, 2002

From March 30 until May 2, 2002, the Government of Canada consulted Canadians on proposals to help the world's least developed countries by removing tariffs and quotas on most of the products they sell to Canada. The Government was seeking the views of parties, such as key industry sectors, non-governmental organizations, and interested citizens, on the proposals, including any economic or social impact the proposed action might have.

See the Report on Submissions Received for the results of the public consultations. A Canada Gazette Notice was published on March 30, 2002

For further information on key issues, see the discussion paper entitled "Improving Access for the Products of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to the Canadian Market."
html or pdf (13 pages, 299 KB)

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