Committee clears Colombian deal for next step in process

After months of acrimonious debate and opposition-inspired delay, Canada-Colombia free trade legislation has cleared a major hurdle on the way to a final vote as early as fall.Deep into the night on June 1 after almost seven hours, the majority of MPs on the House of Commons international trade committee sent the bill to the House of Commons for more debate.NDP and Bloc Québécois MPs behind the delay vowed to continue the fight.Labour and human rights advocates oppose the deal because of Colombia’s history of human rights violations. Most Canadian agricultural exporters support the deal.The agreement would sharply cut tariffs on a wide range of agricultural commodities going into the South American country, leading to endorsement from the Canadian Wheat Board, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canadian Pork Council, Pulse Canada and Grain Growers of Canada.The bill is slated for more debate before it goes to a final third reading. Then it would go to the Senate.

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