CHAIR'S FOREWORD

In September 1998, the Honourable Sergio Marchi, Minister of International Trade, asked the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade to report to him on positions Canada should take in negotiating an agreement that would create a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). It was expected that this report would provide valuable parliamentary direction to Canadian negotiators prior to the Fifth Meeting of Trade Ministers of the hemisphere and the first negotiating round to be held in Toronto in November 1999. Given the formidable challenge already presented the Standing Committee in undertaking its study of the World Trade Organization and the Millennium Round of negotiations, while at the same time being intensively engaged in briefings on the military crisis in Kosovo, Yugoslavia, the Standing Committee took the earliest opportunity to refer the Minister's request to its Sub-Committee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment.

In the time available, from March to June 1999, the Sub-Committee structured its hearings in a way that would enable it to hear from as many Canadians as possible, covering a wide range of public concerns from many and diverse perspectives. The Sub-Committee also held joint meetings with the Standing Committee when travelling across the country from Halifax to Vancouver. Apart from hearing from the public at large, the Sub-Committee organized round table meetings of experts to address and debate the principal stakes of an FTAA for Canada and to comment on key issues such as: its opportunities and challenges, social and economic development of the smaller economies of the Americas, the preservation of Canadian culture and hemispheric cultural diversity, labour standards and working conditions, the environment, agriculture, competition policy and a dispute settlement process. Written submissions, including letters, faxes and e-mail, were received from others in addition to the briefs presented by those appearing before the Sub-Committee.

In the end, 48 witnesses appeared before the Sub-Committee and 35 briefs and submissions were received. In addition, of the 394 witnesses who appeared before the joint meetings with the Standing Committee, many chose to address the question of the FTAA. Canadians clearly had things to say about the world's trading system as they cleverly articulated well-reasoned views and opinions. Perhaps the fact that Canada has been a country of traders since its inception explains why its citizens are well informed on matters of international trade and investment. Canadians also proved to be very knowledgeable on the more obvious implications of globalization, at least with respect to those factors that have revealed themselves to date, and are preparing for the opportunities and challenges it presents. This keen awareness combined with their general familiarity with the social and economic circumstances of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Committee thought, was particularly enlightening. The public was especially focused on four policy areas of social concern, including respect for human rights, the establishment of core labour rights and standards, the conservation of the environment for future generations, and the preservation of Canadian culture and hemispheric cultural diversity. Much to the Committee's surprise, the views of Canadians on an FTAA were not as divergent as one might have expected and consensus on a wide variety of issues was within immediate grasp. This report, written after reconstituting the Standing Committee and the Sub-Committee in the second session of the 36th Parliament this fall, reflects this in-depth knowledge and advice of Canadians, embracing political support for specific actions on issues of public concern.

At this time I would like to thank Dan Shaw of the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament for organizing and planning our study, his tireless research work and the preparation of this report. The report also benefited from the able research assistance of Daniel Dupras, Jean-Denis Fréchette, Gerald Schmitz and Kevin Kerr, all of whom are from the Parliamentary Research Branch. I would like to express my gratitude to Christopher Maule for both his research work and his professional counsel. Many thanks are extended to Janice Hilchie, Christine Fisher and their staff for organizing the many productive meetings and travel of the Standing Committee and Sub-Committee, as well as for their professional contributions in finalizing this report.

Finally, on behalf of the Standing Committee, I would like to thank the public who participated in our extensive hearings process and for sharing their insights with us. I think that the public would agree that this report reflects their concerns and contributes to our common Canadian values and priorities in an evolving trading system within the hemisphere.