Introducing Ethics 2012

Canadian Fair Trade Procurement Strategy

The Canadian Fair Trade Network is calling for the Government of Canada to incorporate purchasing of Fairtrade Certified products as a best practice implementation strategy for achieving the SMARTGreen Procurement Targets in Canada’s Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.

The Canadian Fair Trade Network is joining forces with the Canadian Earth Summit Coalition in calling upon the Government of Canada to incorporate Fairtrade Certified products as a best practice implementation strategy for achieving the SMARTGreen Procurement Targets in Canada’s Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. This particular requested was submitted to the United Nations Zero Draft in the run-up to the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 Earth Summit) on June 20^th to 22^nd 2012.

Fair Trade is a global movement that is working to ensure social, environmental and economic benefits for communities, and to empower hardworking individuals around the world. Moreover, Canadians can buy Fair Trade products in grocery stores, cafés and restaurants by locating the Fairtrade Certified mark on the cover of the product.

The Fairtrade certification system is anchored by an internationally recognized, ISO-65 accredited body–FLO CERT–which conducts audits and verifies that producers are receiving liveable wages, and practicing environmentally sustainable farming methods.(1) As part of Fairtrade certification standards, producer co-operatives receive social premiums which can be invested into community development projects, and forbids child labour.

Canada’s Federal Sustainable Development Strategy is the ideal policy framework in which Fair Trade procurement guidelines can be included pertaining to clothing, food, and beverage products, as they can be comprehensively implemented by all departments when negotiating procurement contracts with foodservice providers and uniform suppliers(2) (3).

Domestic and International Situation

Many public institutions are adopting Fair Trade procurement strategies. In 2011, the University of British Columbia (UBC) became Canada’s first Fair Trade Campus. Under this designation, the university and all of its suppliers have committed to purchasing Fairtrade Certified products when available(4). Similarly, there are 15 Fair Trade Towns across the country – an initiative stipulating that municipal administrations purchase Fair Trade products when possible. In 2007, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, became the first Fair Trade Town in Canada, and in 2010, Vancouver, British Columbia became the first major Canadian city to receive this designation.(5) These implementation strategies have not infringed upon Canada’s obligations to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) nor the World Trade Organization (WTO); moreover they advance Canada’s commitment in meeting Agenda 21.

Significance for Earth Summit 2012

Asking the Government of Canada to adopt a Fair Trade Procurement Strategy runs in concert with the objectives of the Earth Summit 2012 because large-scale purchasing of Fairtrade Certified goods can lift thousands of producers out of extreme poverty and advances sustainable development in farming and artisanal communities around the world. Fair Trade addresses environmental concerns such as soil erosion and climate change while tackling emerging challenges in human trafficking by rooting out child labour.