Bill C-282 faces uncertain future after Senate amendments

A private member’s bill aimed to prohibit supply management concessions in future trade negotiations is facing an uncertain future.

On November 6, 2024, the Senate’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee passed an amendment to Bill C-282, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, with a 10-3 vote.

The amendment, proposed by Senator Peter Harder, stipulates that the bill would not apply to existing trade agreements, the renegotiation of current agreements, or those already under negotiation. This clarification aims to balance the protection of supply-managed sectors with the need to maintain flexibility in international trade negotiations. This change has raised proponent’s concerns about the bill’s effectiveness and its future.

Supporters of the original bill have argued that it is essential to protect supply management, especially with the potential renegotiation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) on the horizon. Those opposed, including export dependent cattle organizations across the country, argue the bill could hinder Canada’s ability to negotiate favourable trade deals.

After the Senate committee’s amendment to Bill C-282, the legislative process continues with several potential steps and outcomes. The Bill will likely need to go back to the House of Commons, if the Senate accepts the amendment during its third reading. The bill would then face an unpredictable schedule for debate in the House of Commons, which has been deadlocked over a Conservative privilege motion since September, halting progress on government matters.

Learn more about Bill C-282, here.