Harper government continues to ignore human rights concerns in Colombia

OTTAWA – New Democrats accused the Conservatives of failing to take human rights seriously after the government’s second annual Human Rights Impact Report for the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement shockingly concluded there were no human rights concerns related to trade in Colombia.

“This report makes an absolute mockery of the process and exemplifies the incompetence that Canadians have unfortunately come to expect from the Conservative government on trade,” said NDP International Trade critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway). “The report completely fails to assess the human rights impacts of Canadian investment, or the export of Canadian goods or services to Colombia.”

“Their pseudo-consultation on this report started just one week before it was due and highlights why the Liberal-Conservative inspired reporting mechanism for this trade agreement is so flawed,” said the NDP’s critic for the Americas, Hélène Laverdière (Laurier–Ste.-Marie). “Such reports must be produced by independent experts, as recommended by the Standing Committee on International Trade in 2008.”

The NDP is in favour of increased trade with emerging markets and, unlike the Conservatives, New Democrats also understand the importance of protecting human rights and promoting democratic values.

“The Conservative report is an embarrassment and does not meet basic international human rights standards,” said NDP Human Rights critic Wayne Marston (Hamilton East–Stoney Creek). “Like last year, the report is devoid of any reporting on human rights and will only serve to further undermine Canada’s credibility at home and abroad.”