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Yet again, WTO sides with Foreign corporations against local procurement
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/11/19/wto-green-energy.htmlWTO rules Ontario green energy tariff unfair
The complaint was made by the EU and Japan, which claim the province's "feed-in tariff" program for its energy grid discriminates against foreign component manufacturers by declaring a minimum percentage of renewable energy goods and services be provided by Ontario-based companies.
According to the Green Energy Act, wind and solar projects in Ontario made between 2009 and 2011 must contain at least 25 per cent Ontario-made content, and projects coming on-stream in 2012 must be at least 50 per cent made in Ontario.
Canada's two largest trade unions, the CAW and CEP, issued a joint statement Monday denouncing the ruling, for example. "Governments in Canada at every level must have the capacity to encourage local production through procurement policies," CAW president Ken Lewenza said. "This decision aims to destroy the kind of inventive, creative job creation policies that are absolutely necessary to put our economy on the right foot and to prepare for the future."
The WTO ruling is non-binding, meaning Ontario could simply ignore it and not face any monetary punishment. But such a move would likely be met with the implementation of tariffs against any Ontario-made goods in Japan and the EU. That would also be especially unlikely against the backdrop of a federal government trying to iron out a comprehensive free trade agreement with the European Union.
The complaint was made by the EU and Japan, which claim the province's "feed-in tariff" program for its energy grid discriminates against foreign component manufacturers by declaring a minimum percentage of renewable energy goods and services be provided by Ontario-based companies.
According to the Green Energy Act, wind and solar projects in Ontario made between 2009 and 2011 must contain at least 25 per cent Ontario-made content, and projects coming on-stream in 2012 must be at least 50 per cent made in Ontario.
Canada's two largest trade unions, the CAW and CEP, issued a joint statement Monday denouncing the ruling, for example. "Governments in Canada at every level must have the capacity to encourage local production through procurement policies," CAW president Ken Lewenza said. "This decision aims to destroy the kind of inventive, creative job creation policies that are absolutely necessary to put our economy on the right foot and to prepare for the future."
The WTO ruling is non-binding, meaning Ontario could simply ignore it and not face any monetary punishment. But such a move would likely be met with the implementation of tariffs against any Ontario-made goods in Japan and the EU. That would also be especially unlikely against the backdrop of a federal government trying to iron out a comprehensive free trade agreement with the European Union.
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FFS, If not now, when! CETA is rolling forward without consultation, or representation of provinces and labour unions. An opportunity is at hand to stand up and say FU: We're buying and building local. Under the proposed CETA agreement, public projects over $8.5 million must be tendered internationally.
According to the WTO, government investment into research and development creates an unfair barrier to global corporations: apparently its not our country anymore.
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the fallout caused by Nafta and WTO over the last 20 years. We've become conditioned to accept that the lowered expectations are the new normal. Now the Trans Pacific Partnership, and CETA (in Canada) are continuing the race to the bottom. I suspect people will also fall for the Keystone pipeline too, and then 20 years from now wonder where all this contamination came from. 
