How communities are doing it better
Many Ontario municipalities have completed or are working on policies, practices, motions and
resolutions on topics ranging from bans on the use of sweatshop labour, to resolutions on local
procurement, to fair wage and environmental sustainability policies. These are examples of good public
initiatives that may be adversely affected by the passing of various interprovincial and international trade
agreements. Other public institutions, such as agencies, school boards and universities, may also be
affected by secretive trade negotiations.
Here are some highlights:
Ottawa
The City of Ottawa’s ethical purchasing policy came into effect in May 2007. In part, the Ethical
Purchasing Policy document states, “The City of Ottawa is committed to being a force for positive social
change by purchasing goods and services from responsible producers that supply quality products at
competitive prices and abide by ethical standards and norms.” The policy also includes a Supplier Code
of Conduct that imposes minimal standards for hours of work, wages and compensation.
Kitchener
On June 23, 2008, Kitchener City Council approved a staff recommendation that the city stop the
serving of bottled water at its general committee, Council or any other committee or public meetings
at city hall. In April 2008, the Region of Waterloo banned the sale of bottled water on its premises and
stopped using bottled water at regional functions.
Toronto
Toronto has perhaps the most comprehensive set of regulations on these issues. The city’s Fair Wage
Policy has as a central principle involving the prohibition of the city doing business with contractors,
sub-contractors and suppliers who discriminate against their workers. Originally implemented in 1893
to ensure that contractors for the city paid their workers the union rates or, for non-union workers, the
prevailing wages and benefits in their field, the fair wage policy has expanded over the years to other
non-construction classifications, such as clerical workers.
In October 2002, council approved a purchasing policy that will require the city to buy its uniforms and
other apparel items from “no sweat manufacturers” that respect the rights of their workers regarding
working conditions and pay.
In April 2006, council adopted a motion encouraging the operators of all Toronto municipal facilities to
distribute City of Toronto tap water rather than commercially-bottled water.
And, in October 2008, Council adopted their Local Food Procurement Policy aimed at reducing
greenhouse gas and smog from emissions generated by food imports from outside Ontario as part of
the implementation of Climate Change, Clean Air and Sustainable Energy Action Plan. Other institutions
in Toronto are following suit, including the University of Toronto, which has committed to using locally
sourced, environmentally and socially responsible food on its campus.
Sudbury
The City of Greater Sudbury Council, in addressing the impact of manufacturing job losses in the Greater
Sudbury Region, has adopted a comprehensive and integrated set of economic, fiscal and monetary
policies – a framework for fair trade that will both strengthen domestic manufacturing and protect
manufacturing jobs, including “A Made in Canada” government procurement policy.
Windsor
In February 2003, Windsor City Council authorized their staff to work with interested parties to outline
possible amendments to the city’s purchasing policy to ensure that the city does not contract with
sweatshops in the procurement of apparel and textile goods and services.
Kingston
The City of Kingston is in the process of banning the sale of bottled water on its premises. The Algonquin
and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board in Kingston has already moved to implement such a ban,
noting that “access to potable water is a human right” that is increasingly threatened by a number of
practices and that the disposal of plastics “raises serious environmental concerns.”
London
London has ratified a bottled water ban. For the purposes of public education, every web page where
tourists go for information, people are advised: “To reduce the amount of plastic going into recycling,
bottled water is no longer being sold at any facility run by the City of London.”
Hamilton
The City of Hamilton adopted strict purchasing guidelines in May 2007 that require suppliers to
“represent and certify” in part that “all goods or products supplied under this quotation/proposal/tender
have not been manufactured, assembled or produced, either wholly or in part, in a sweatshop, as
defined in the City of Hamilton’s Purchasing Policy or by child labour.”
On all construction contracts with the City of Hamilton, the guideline states that, “every contractor and
sub-contractor shall pay or provide Wages and Benefits to their Employees, in accordance with the Fair
Wage Policy and the Fair Wage Schedule with the City.” In addition, if someone feels a contractor or
sub-contractor isn’t providing a fair wage, the municipality has a transparent complaint form process.
Conclusion
Trade agreements affect all of us. Municipal, provincial and federal governments must be innovative and
responsive to the communities they represent, as well as the international community we are all part of.
We need governments to recognize, like so many people already do, that many of the solutions to the
economic, environmental and energy crises we face, are going to be local solutions.
Trade agreements that restrict what municipalities and provinces can do to protect the environment,
save existing jobs and create new ones, strengthen public services, and support local economies, are
not in the public interest.
By taking action in our communities, we can all ensure a better and fairer trade future for Ontarians and
for our country.
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