–The below from our colleagues at ARSN

Canada Colombia Trade Deal Removed from Government’s Legislative Agenda; all opposition parties call for a human Rights Impact assessment.

As a result of increasing parliamentary and public concern, Bill C-23, the implementing legislation for the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), has been removed from the government’s current legislative agenda. Ratification of the FTA requires majority parliamentary approval of implementing legislation for the agreement. Second reading of the controversial bill began Monday May 25, 2009. The Liberal Party of Canada joined the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois in calling for a human rights impact assessment before further votes on the Bill. The HRIA was recommended as an essential step of due diligence by the Parliamentary Standing Committee for International Trade in June 2008. Debate on the Bill now seems unlikely to re commence until the Fall of 2009. Still the President of Colombia has been invited to address the Parliamentary Committee on June 10th ……

The decision for Canada to move ahead with this trade deal, even as other countries like Norway, the US and the UK are exerting increased pressure on the Colombian Government to address widespread human rights violations and putting off trade deals, has been met with widespread condemnation by citizens across Canada. Thousands of letters, petitions and other actions have been undertaken with Members of Parliament in the past months. Great work by the labour unions, Amnesty International, Make Poverty History, the Churches , Council of Canadians and many regional solidarity networks from the Maritimes to BC….

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