Farmers’ Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA

Background and Status

The Farmers Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA
is the farmers’ way of drawing a line in the sand and saying
— to Ottawa and to the world — “
this is where the interests of markets end
and the interests of Canada's communities begin.

Wendy Holm, P.Ag.
March 21, 2005

The Farmers’ Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA is a Canada-wide, farmer-led campaign to develop farm “voice” and farm “authority” in a critical public policy dialogue: the retention of national sovereignty over Canada’s water resources. 

The Farmers’ Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA is not "anti-NAFTA".  Nor is it "anti-exports".   It is simply "pro-Canadian".    It is about retaining Canada's sovereign right to make decisions for and by communities with respect to water use.  In perpetuity.  

Prior to the signing of the FTA and the NAFTA, Canadians were assured by our Federal Government that Canadian sovereignty over our water resources remained uncompriomised.  Turns out, it was:  any time water is licensed and withdrawn by a US firm - or a firm with US investors - NAFTA rights attach.  Water flooding in the oil patch is a prime example.   An error and a fix.   Canada's farmers know the longer you leave a hole in the fence, the bigger it gets.   And when a solid "table with 1,000 legs" has been constructed (adopted by 1,000 farm organizations), Canadians will be encouraged to jump up and stand shoulder to shoulder with Canada's farmers in support of water sovereignty.    In a democracy, citizens standing together in one voice and saying "please" should not fail. 

Already, over 200 farm organizations (click here for a listing) have endorsed The Farmers' Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA.

Water’s inclusion in the NAFTA means “hands-off” to Canadian public policy any time there is a US commercial interest in Canada’s water. From an irrigation project in southern Saskatchewan to the use of water for hydroelectric generation to "water flooding" in the oil patch, US interests in Canada’s water are facilitated and protected by NAFTA. No such protection exists for Canadians.

BACKGROUND ON THE START OF THIS INITIATIVE (Farmers' Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA):

In November 2002, with financial support from VANCITY (Vancouver City Savings Credit Union), a letter and accompanying information package was sent from Peace River rancher Heather Bickford to some 230 BC farm organizations (commodity groups, breed associations, farmers’ institutes, women’s institutes, 4-h clubs) across the province asking them to pass the Farmers Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA and forward it to me for presentation to the Prime Minister and to the leaders of other federal political parties on Valentines Day, 2003. .

On February 14th, 2003, Resolutions from farm groups in BC and across Canada were presented to Chrétien and other political leaders in Ottawa, kicking off the campaign to mobilize support for the Resolution from farm groups in every province.

In October and November of 2003, the Women’s Institutes of British Columbia and Alberta leant organizational support to a speaking tour that brought this issue to the attention of farm communities in BC's Peace River region and in north-central Alberta.   Once this “table with a thousand legs” (endorsement by 1,000 farm organizations) is constructed, Canada’s communities will be given the opportunity to jump on board by saying: “We support Canada’s farmers in this” — identifying farmers as “local heroes” on the important issue of water sovereignty , food security and sustainability.

On Valentine’s Day 2004, Holm again traveled to Ottawa to present the Resolutions of a growing list of Canada’s farmers to Canada’s political leaders.   Then travelled to Montreal to speak on the issue at l'universite du Quebec a Montreal public formum "Continentalisation:  l'eau de 'Amerique ou l'eau des Americains?" (Water of America?  or Water of Americans?")

In the fall of 2004, Holm was the dinner speaker at the Annual Meeting of the Huron County Federaion of Agriculture.  In January of this year, Holm was a plenary speaker at the Wild Rose Agricultural Producers Annual General Meeting in Edmonton. 

Holm continues to speak and write on this issue, and is available to address your farm organization.

SOVEREIGNTY, NOT POLITICS:

For too long, politics has blocked resolution of the water/NAFTA problem. Whether you love the NAFTA or hate the NAFTA is not the point.   Whether you think water exports are a good idea or a terrible idea is not the point.   What is the point is that Canadian sovereignty over water resources must be absolute. Then and only then can communities come to provincial understandings as to how to best manage this resource within a sustainable and democratically determined federal policy framework.

NOT A RENEGOTIATION BUT A "FIX":

Importantly, fixing water’s inclusion in the NAFTA is as simple as fixin’ a fence! Canada needs to add water (HCCS Tariff Item 22.01) to the list of exempted goods under Annex 301.3, Section A - Canadian Measures and Annex II Schedule of Canada of the NAFTA.

(Annex 301.3 is the section of NAFTA where Canada lists those goods that are exempt from the “Goods” provisions of the NAFTA, including National Treatment and Export Restrictions, and presently includes “export of logs of all species” and “unprocessed fish” from the Maritimes. Annex II is the section of NAFTA where Canada lists those sectors, sub-sectors or activities which are exempt from the Investment and Services provisions of the NAFTA, including National Treatment.)

In the intense public discussions leading up to the signing of both the FTA and the NAFTA, Canadians were repeatedly assured by Ottawa that water was NOT included. Consequently, removing water from the reach of the trade agreements is not a renegotiation but a "fix." Sound simple? Well, actually, it is. What has been lacking up until now has been the political will.

The Farmers Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA is the farmers’ way of drawing a line in the sand and saying — to Ottawa and to the world — “this is where the interests of international markets end and the interests of Canadian communities in sustainable sovereignty begins.”

Already, this resolution has attracted the interests of international groups.

RAISING ONE VOICE:

This initiative - The Farmers' Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA - arose from a meeting of Canadian farmers in Havana's Hotel Nacional at the conclusion of the March 2002 Canada Cuba Farmer to Farmer Tour. The issue on the minds of the Delegates was: How can we take what we have seen here in Cuba - policy and community respect for farmers - and transfer it to Canada? From this, the question became one of raising effective voice. Because of it's critical importance to the sustainability of Canada's farmers and farming communities., the retention of Canadian sovereignty over our water resources - The Farmers' Resolution to Exempt Water from the NAFTA - was identified as a platform all farmers would support if raised in a professional, non-partisan manner.

Go to the Water Page for a history of the issue, a copy of the Resolution, a list of farm groups that have already signed it, and how you can help! Wendy Holm, P.Ag. 605.947.2893 holm@farmertofarmer.ca


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