Annual Report April 2004 – March 2005

2004/2005 Highlights

The Year 2004 signified the first decade of achievement under the AIT since its signature by federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments in Canada. Throughout 2004/2005 the internal trade agenda was guided predominantly by the COF workplan. Highlights included:

• Annual meeting of the CIT, December 2004 (Ottawa);
• Work by Parties to honour all obligations under the AIT including appointing panellists to the Roster of Panellists and more timely reporting on procurement and incentives;
• Completion of the negotiations to open Crown Procurement to national competition;
• Improvements to the procedural fairness of AIT dispute resolution mechanisms;
• Launch of an assessment of gaps between the AIT and issues outside the scope of the Agreement;
• Development of a workplan to complete negotiation of an Energy Chapter;
• Commencement of a full review of AIT dispute resolution mechanisms;
• Assessment of work required to address labour mobility issues including but not limited to mutual recognition of foreign credentials; and
• Review of the scope and coverage of the Agriculture Chapter.