What is Canada doing to promote transparency in the FTAA process?
• Canada’s leadership role as the first chair of the FTAA negotiations was a key opportunity to advocate a meaningful role for civil society in the FTAA. • Canada was also a key player in the establishment of the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society. Since then, the committee’s mandate has been strengthened, and an open invitation has been extended for civil society to submit written submissions that are shared with relevant negotiating groups and committees. • It was at Canada’s initiative that, at the 2001 Buenos Aires Ministerial Meeting, agreement was reached to release the draft FTAA negotiation text. During the Ministerial in Quito in November 2002, Canada again pressed successfully for a renewed consensus to release the updated draft of the FTAA negotiating text. • Canada is pleased that Ministers released the third draft of the FTAA text at the November 2003 Miami Ministerial Meeting.
