February 23, 2001 (8:30 a.m. EST)

No. 26

PETTIGREW ISSUES CANADA'S RECOMMENDATIONS

TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY IN THE FTAA

International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew today issued Canada's proposals on strengthening civil society participation in the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiating process.

Canada's recommendations were submitted to the FTAA Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society. The Committee receives submissions from groups and organizations throughout the hemisphere on a range of social and economic issues.

"Canada is the leader in the hemisphere in engaging civil society, and we believe this committee can play a key role in promoting a more transparent and inclusive approach to the FTAA process," said Minister Pettigrew. "It's been Canada's experience that the better informed people are, the more they'll support trade liberalization."

Canada's specific recommendations to the committee include:

• forwarding civil society submissions received by the Committee to relevant negotiating groups, committees and institutions;
• issuing regular status reports on FTAA negotiations;
• making FTAA documentation publicly available whenever possible; and
• hosting regular public meetings throughout the hemisphere on specific issues related to the FTAA negotiations.

The Committee meets regularly as a consultative body in the negotiations and serves as a forum for input from citizen-based groups, the business community and non-governmental organizations.

The FTAA is integral to the Summit of the Americas process that links economic growth to social development in raising standards of living, improving working conditions and better protecting the environment throughout the Americas. The next FTAA Ministerial will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 7.

More information on Canada's proposals can be found at http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/Civilsociety-e.asp

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Media Relations

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874