The federal government has re-introduced legislation to authorize a Canada-Colombia free trade agreement, which is supported by most farm groups.
However, parliamentary opponents signaled the bill is going nowhere.
It was the first piece of legislation introduced in the new session of Parliament, and trade minister Peter Van Loan pleaded with opposition MPs to support it.
He said side agreements on labour rights and the environment mean the deal will help Colombia progress while giving Canadians better access to an important market.
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“You can’t talk about economic recovery without talking about trade,” Van Loan told a March 10 news conference.
“Not passing it doesn’t make sense to me for those who want to see progress for the Colombian people.”
Liberals have indicated they support the legislation, but it is unlikely to come to a vote as opponents use parliamentary rules to block progress.
New Democrat and Bloc Québécois MPs who stalled the bill in the last session said they will do so again.
They object to trading with a country like Colombia where human rights abuses including the murder of trade union activists is common.
