C-57 , 40th Parliament, 2nd session January 26, 2009, to December 30, 2009

An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Short title: Canada-Jordan Free Trade Act

Summary

Current status
At second reading in the House of Commons
Latest activity
Debate at second reading on November 19, 2009 (House of Commons)

Progress

End of stage activity
Introduction and first reading, November 17, 2009
Chamber sittings
Sitting date Debates (Hansard)
November 17, 2009
Chamber sittings
Sitting date Debates (Hansard)
November 19, 2009
Sitting 113
Major speeches
Show major speeches at second reading
Consideration in committee
Not reached
Report stage
Not reached
Third reading
Not reached

Senate

First reading
Not reached
Second reading
Not reached
Third reading
Not reached

Details

Recorded votes

House of Commons

There are currently no recorded votes for this bill.

Senate

To view the complete list of standing votes that have taken place in the Senate, please refer to the Votes page of the Senate of Canada website.

Speaker's rulings and statements

There are currently no Speaker's rulings and statements.

Major speeches at second reading

House of Commons

Speech date Speech Member of Parliament
November 19, 2009 Sponsor’s speech(Sitting 113) Gerald Keddy (Conservative)
November 19, 2009 Response speech(Sitting 113) Scott Brison (Liberal)
November 19, 2009 Response speech(Sitting 113) Claude Guimond (Bloc Québécois)
November 19, 2009 Response speech(Sitting 113) Peter Julian (NDP)

About

Legislative summary

The Library of Parliament does not prepare Legislative Summaries for bills that implement treaties, conventions, agreements or administrative arrangements bills. The following is a short summary:

On 17 November 2009, The Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway introduced Bill C-57, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Canada-Jordan Free Trade Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading.

Bill C-57 implements a free trade agreement between Canada and Colombia that was signed in June 2009. Among other things, it:

• eliminates tariffs on over 99 percent of recent Canadian exports (by value) to Jordan.

• eliminates all non-agricultural tariffs, numerous agricultural tariffs and tariffs on many Canadian exports, including pulse crops, frozen french fries, animal feed, various prepared foods, certain forestry products and machinery.

• eliminates all tariffs on Jordanian goods, with the exception of over-quota tariffs on dairy, poultry and eggs, which are excluded from tariff reductions.

• commits Canada and Jordan to ensuring that their laws respect the International Labour Organization’s (ILO’s) 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

• commits Canada and Jordan to protecting occupational health and safety, maintaining acceptable minimum employment standards and providing compensation for occupational injuries and illnesses. Migrant workers will have the same legal protection as nationals in respect of working conditions.

• stipulates that failure to respect ILO principles and enforce domestic laws could result in an independent review panel assessing a monetary penalty, as a last resort.

• commits Canada and Jordan to pursuing high levels of environmental protection and to striving to develop and improve their environmental laws and policies.

• commits Canada and Jordan to ensuring environmental assessment processes are in place, and to providing remedies for violations of environmental laws.

Similar bills

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