Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Canada is currently negotiating with the European Union for a trade agreement, CETA. It has been some four years in the making and, I gather, they’re finally getting to a possible end point. Much of the negotiations have been withheld from the public, but provinces and territories, at least, are party to the negotiations. We have to hope that our interests around this agreement are being adequately represented by our government, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
So why should I discuss a federal issue here in the NWT Assembly? Well, because this agreement has the potential to impact our government, our residents, and we should be concerned about that. A submission from Alternatives North last year stated it is precisely the people and small businesses in the NWT who stand to lose the most should CETA become a reality.
The question for me is what will Canada give up during negotiations to satisfy the European Union and reach the agreement the federal government seems so desperate to achieve. The most recent negotiations were just last week and the European Union trade commissioner has been quoted as saying, “On a number of issues they have to make additional steps. What was on the table is not enough. Very simple.”
A few weeks ago a radio commentator stated we know what Europe wants. We don’t know what Canada is willing to give up. That’s my concern. What will Canadian citizens lose and is our territorial government fighting to keep that from happening? They are the only ones who can represent our interests to the federal government.
The intent of CETA is to open new markets for Canadian goods, and I’m all for that. But what I cannot conscience is an agreement that ends up costing Canadians more for certain goods and services, and that’s a distinct possibility. The likeliest culprit is the European Union demand for extended patents on prescription drugs. This remains one of Canada’s most difficult decisions in these negotiations as drug costs for provinces and territories could jump significantly.
If the European demand is agreed to, Canadians will not be able to use generic drugs for five years, instead of the current two or three years. With the cost difference between generic and patented drugs, we could see our own government drug costs increase a great deal.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
The GNWT has to make sure that Canada understands the impact such a change will have on us and our hold-the-line fiscal strategy, as we hear very often from Mr. Miltenberger. My fingers are crossed that the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment will adequately negotiate on our behalf before CETA is concluded.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
