With only three weeks until the federal election on Oct. 19, Canada’s trade minister Ed Fast is travelling to Atlanta to try and conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
Chief negotiators from the dozen countries in the TPP negotiations are meeting for four days starting Sept. 26, which will be followed by a meeting of trade ministers on Sept. 30.
In a Sept. 23 interview with the New Zealand Herald, New Zealand trade minister Tim Groser said the Canadians are negotiating as if there’s no election.
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The Liberals and NDP have questions whether the Conservatives have the authority to negotiate on behalf of Canada during the election without consulting the other parties.
According to the Privy Council’s “guidelines on the conduct of ministers, ministers of state, exempt staff and public servants during an election, during a election campaign” a government is restricted to performing matters that are routine, non-controversial, urgent and in the public interest, reversible by a new government without undue cost or disruption, and agreed to by opposition parties (in cases where consultation is appropriate).
So it appears the prime minister does have some constitutional authority to negotiate on Canada’s behalf during the election.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has recently stated the TPP negotiations are still “a long way from being in the best place we could on dairy,” suggesting some countries such as Canada are reluctant to completely give the system up.
There is also disagreement on issues such as intellectual property protection and the auto industry.
TPP nations accounting for 40 percent of world trade, and some analysis believe the deal would likely stimulate the global economy.
