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An Act to amend the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act and to make related amendments to other Acts (S.C. 2019, c. 6)

Assented to 2019-05-27

An Act to amend the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act and to make related amendments to other Acts

S.C. 2019, c. 6

Assented to 2019-05-27

An Act to amend the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act and to make related amendments to other Acts

RECOMMENDATION

Her Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled “An Act to amend the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act and to make related amendments to other Acts”.

SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act in order to implement the Canada – Israel Free Trade Amending Protocol 2018 signed on May 28, 2018.

In order to modernize the text of the Act and by that reflect the amendments brought about by the Protocol, this enactment repeals the preamble to that Act and amends the definition of Agreement, the provision setting out the purpose of the Act and the provisions related to the operation of the institutional and administrative aspects of the Agreement. It also amends that Act in order to confer on the Governor in Council the power to make orders in accordance with the amended Agreement.

Finally, the enactment amends certain Acts to bring them into conformity with Canada’s obligations resulting from the amendments brought about by the Protocol.

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1996, c. 33Amendments to the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act

 The preamble to the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act is repealed.

 The definitions Agreement and Commission in subsection 2(1) of the Act are replaced by the following:

Agreement

Agreement means the Free Trade Agreement entered into between the Government of Canada and the Government of the State of Israel and signed on July 31, 1996, as amended by the Canada – Israel Free Trade Amending Protocol 2018 signed on May 28, 2018. (Accord)

Commission

Commission means the Joint Commission established under paragraph 1 of Article 18.1 of the Agreement. (Commission)

 Section 4 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Purpose

4 The purpose of this Act is to implement the Agreement, the objectives of which, as elaborated more specifically through its provisions, are to

  • (a) strengthen the bilateral commercial relationship between Canada and the State of Israel;

  • (b) improve access to the Israeli market for Canadian businesses by reducing and eliminating tariffs, addressing non-tariff barriers, enhancing cooperation and increasing transparency in regulatory matters;

  • (c) ensure a high level of environmental protection through comprehensive and legally-binding commitments;

  • (d) build on the respective international commitments of Canada and the State of Israel on labour matters; and

  • (e) promote gender equality and encourage women’s economic empowerment and the use of voluntary corporate social responsibility standards and principles, as well as promote access for small and medium-sized enterprises to the opportunities created by the Agreement.

 Section 7 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Non-application of Agreement to water

7 For greater certainty, nothing in this Act or the Agreement applies to natural surface or ground water in liquid, gaseous or solid state.

 Sections 12 to 15 of the Act are replaced by the following:

Panels, Committees, Subcommittees, Working Groups, Expert Groups and Other Bodies

Marginal note:Powers of Minister for International Trade

  • 12 (1) The Minister for International Trade may

    • (a) appoint representatives of Canada to any committee, subcommittee, working group or other body referred to in paragraph 6 of Article 18.1 of the Agreement;

    • (b) appoint a panellist in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 19.7 of the Agreement; and

    • (c) propose candidates to serve as the chair of a panel, or select the chair, in accordance with that Article 19.7.

  • Marginal note:Powers of Minister of Labour

    (2) The Minister of Labour may

    • (a) appoint representatives of Canada to any committee, working group or expert group referred to in sub-paragraph 4(a) of Article 12.7 of the Agreement;

    • (b) appoint a panellist in accordance with paragraph 4 of Annex 12.13.3 of the Agreement; and

    • (c) propose candidates to serve as the chairperson of a Review Panel, or select the chairperson, in accordance with paragraphs 4 and 5 of that Annex.

Marginal note:Administrative support

13 The Minister for International Trade is to designate an agency, division or branch of the Government of Canada to facilitate the operation of Chapter 18 of the Agreement and to provide administrative assistance to panels established under Chapter 19 of the Agreement.

Marginal note:Payment of costs

14 The Government of Canada is to pay the costs of or its appropriate share of the costs of

  • (a) the remuneration and expenses payable to members of panels, committees, subcommittees, working groups, expert groups and other bodies, to independent experts and to the assistants of panel members; and

  • (b) the general expenses incurred by panels, committees, subcommittees, working groups, expert groups and other bodies.

Orders

Marginal note:Orders — Article 19.13 of Agreement

  • 15 (1) The Governor in Council may, for the purpose of suspending benefits in accordance with Article 19.13 of the Agreement, by order, do any of the following:

    • (a) suspend rights or privileges granted by Canada to the State of Israel or to goods of Israel under the Agreement or any federal law;

    • (b) modify or suspend the application of any federal law, with respect to the State of Israel or to goods of Israel;

    • (c) extend the application of any federal law to the State of Israel or to goods of Israel;

    • (d) take any other measure that the Governor in Council considers necessary.

  • Marginal note:Period of order

    (2) Unless repealed, an order made under subsection (1) has effect for the period specified in the order.

Related Amendments

R.S., c. C-50Crown Liability and Proceedings Act

 Part 2 of the schedule to the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:

Chapter 12 of the Agreement, within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, as amended from time to time in accordance with Article 21.2 of that Agreement.

R.S., c. I-3Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act

 Section 2 of the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:

Israel or another CIFTA beneficiary

Israel or another CIFTA beneficiary has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Customs Tariff; (Israël ou autre bénéficiaire de l’ALÉCI)

 The schedule to the Act is amended by adding, in alphabetical order, a reference to “Israel or another CIFTA beneficiary” in column 1 and a corresponding reference to “Canada–Israel Agreement Tariff in the List of Tariff Provisions set out in the schedule to the Customs Tariff” in column 2.

1997, c. 36Customs Tariff

 Section 51 of the Customs Tariff is repealed.

  •  (1) Tariff item Nos. 1902.11.10, 1902.11.90, 1902.19.91 and 1902.19.99 in the List of Tariff Provisions set out in the schedule to the Act are amended by replacing

    • (a) in the column “Preferential Tariff / Initial Rate”, the reference to “4%” after the abbreviation “CIAT” with a reference to “Free”; and

    • (b) in the column “Preferential Tariff / Final Rate”, the reference to “4% (A)” after the abbreviation “CIAT” with a reference to “Free (A)”.

  • (2) Tariff item Nos. 1902.40.10 and 2005.70.90 in the List of Tariff Provisions set out in the schedule to the Act are amended by replacing

    • (a) in the column “Preferential Tariff / Initial Rate”, the reference to “5%” after the abbreviation “CIAT” with a reference to “Free”; and

    • (b) in the column “Preferential Tariff / Final Rate”, the reference to “5% (A)” after the abbreviation “CIAT” with a reference to “Free (A)”.

  • (3) The List of Tariff Provisions set out in the schedule to the Act is amended by replacing, for all tariff items set out in the schedule to this Act,

    • (a) in the column “Preferential Tariff / Initial Rate”, the reference to “N/A” after the abbreviation “CIAT” with a reference to “Free”; and

    • (b) in the column “Preferential Tariff / Final Rate”, the reference to “N/A” after the abbreviation “CIAT” with a reference to “Free (A)”.

2005, c. 34Department of Employment and Social Development Act

 The schedule to the Department of Employment and Social Development Act is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:

 

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