Canada's Policy Paper

Canada is a member of APEC in order to advance its own economic well being as well as the other Asian-Pacific economies. At the present time APEC makes up forty-two percent of global trading, as a member of APEC, Canada would like to see this percentage increase. Canada feels that the APEC forum provides an opportunity to advance the ideals of free trade while at the same time improving the sustainable growth of the environment. APEC is an ideal place to discuss these issues as well as the problems surrounding globalization and intellectual property rights.

Goals Pertaining to Intellectual Property Rights

1. IPEG

• Systems to make IPR easier in the APEC region- harmonizing systems, protection of well-known trademarks, exploration of new technologies to facilitate the acquisition of IPRs
• Insuring the proper enforcement of the IPRs- domestic authorities need to become more involved, cooperation and information exchange, raising public awareness and development of resources
• Effective use of information on IPRs- computerization of IP offices in order to facilitate information sharing

1. Current Status of IPR

• Need for new treaties to protect copyrights- protection of broadcast signals and non-original databases
• IP in the digital age
• Bio-technology-TRIP’s agreement excludes patents for higher life forms and leaves issues to the individual nations. At the present time Canada has not formed an opinion on this issue.
• Trademarks- current frameworks were developed prior to the internet
• New Beneficiaries of IPRs-protection of folklore from exploitation, bio-diversity and genetic resources, environmental concerns

1. Role of IPR/Canadian Interests

• To enable small businesses to grow
• Increase Gross Domestic Product
• Help to break down trade barriers, in the hopes of one day achieving free trade
• To help expand the development and use of technologies

1. Vision for the Future

• Transparency in intellectual property provides for the publication of laws and regulations pertaining to IP that encourages trade
• Rules based trade system- all member economies are treated equally with regards to trade
• Reduction of trade barriers through the lowering of tariffs

1. Action Plan

• Liberalizing markets by breaking down tariffs and trade barriers by working with other organizations
• Strengthening markets by increasing transparency and predictability in the cooperate and public sectors
• Broadening the support for APEC

Goals pertaining to Sustainable Development for Canada

1. Goal

• Cooperative international action on issues of global concern, supported by the international system in which world trade, economic growth, business development, international investment and capital flows, social equity and environmental protection are mutually supportive objectives; opens, rules-based processes and mechanisms for fostering sustainable and equitable economic growth and development, cooperation and communication and instruments for dispute resolution.

• To achieve this Canada suggested a Joint Fora meeting in hopes of achieving 3 objectives to help make the above goals more obtainable. 1) Keep the working groups and committees informed of priorities and objective. 2) Serve as a forum for determining ways by which work groups and committees can collaborate. 3) Exchange ideas on how to improve APEC management

• Taking this form of obtaining goals under advisement the Lead Shepherd for APEPC Industrial Science and Technology Work Group (ISTWG), used it in the 14^th meeting of the group and through organizing in this fashion came up with the following 6 goals. 1) Development of human economic and technical cooperation. 2) Development of safe, stable, and efficient capital markets. 3) Strengthening of economic infrastructure. 4) Harnessing technologies for the future. 5) Safeguard quality of life through environmental growth. 6) Strengthen small and medium enterprises.

1. Canadian Interests

• Job creation, prosperity, the economic well being, quality of life and equity of Canadians. Protection of North Americans and global environment and the sustainable ecological efficient development, management and use of natural resources. More than ¼ of Canada’s trade is dependant on resources

1. Action Plan

• Pursuing Canada’s traditional active internationalism BI and multilaterally and regionally through increased networking and by demonstrating Canadian leadership in encouraging International action. Identifying means to achieve global sustainable prosperity and economic international growth and development (working with APEC) and strengthening Canada’s role as a "knowledge broker"

• Action 1A1. Work with Canadian exporters to implement recommendations made by task force. To strengthen role as a "knowledge broker" in support of sustainable development.

• Action 1A2. Identify opportunities in Canadian international information strategy to promote leadership in sustainable development issues.

• *Action 1A3. Endorse the results of APEC environment ministerial meeting on SD and APEC economic leaders meeting. These include a program of action for sustainable cities, strategy for sustainability of the marine environment and cleaner production strategy. Also review progress of all APEC for integrating SD into their activities.

• Action 1A4. Encourage Canada’s multilateral partners to work towards supportive trade and sustainable development policies.

IV Environmental Laws

• $72 Million funding for the renewed Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)
• Establish strict guidelines for controlling toxic substances, and future elimination of all toxic substances.
• Provisions respecting fuels, international air and water pollution, motor emissions, and nutrients whose release into water can cause excessive growth of aquatic and environmental emergencies.
• Provisions regulate the environmental effects of government operations and to protect the environment on and in relation to federal and aboriginal land.
• Canadian government’s power to protect the environment and human health has been strengthened.
• Canadian citizens have the right to bring civil action against the government for failure to enforce the law.

Canada believes that through dealing with these issues the member economies of APEC will be able to prosper both economically and environmentally. Canada feels that in order to advance these ideals there must open trade and communication through the APEC Ministerial Meetings.