The AMETVS – which strongly opposes the application of the U.S.A. Buy America Act – continues its battle to protect the industry against the ability, such as Via Rail had, to award contracts to American companies with no kind of legal or moral restriction. The Association has called upon every provincial Member of Parliament as well as every federal Member of Parliament in Québec to understand their position in this matter and bring the debate to the House so that fair regulation can be adopted between North American countries.

“We have sent a letter to all provincial and federal elected representatives in Québec to call upon them personally, explained AMETVS Chair of the Board of Directors, Mr. Robert Desrosiers. The 200 letters sent out on November 13, will help raise deciders’ awareness towards a situation that has resulted in a further narrowing of opportunities for Canadian suppliers to participate in such projects [financed through American federal public funds].1”

The AMETVS hopes to see the restoration of a fair distribution between Canada and the United States where Québec manufacturers and subcontractors stop losing contracts to American companies without even having the opportunity to bid in turn on American public transport contracts.
To reach equity between countries, there are several ways, among which the two major ones: the withdrawal of the Buy American Act policy, which imposes on public transport companies financed through the American public funds a 60% minimum of American content and the final assembly in the United States; and the implementation of a similar policy in Canada and for as long as the Buy America Act is in force.

Québec Premier commented about the American protectionist measures and the position of Canadian municipalities

On November 4, Premier Jean Charest had comments to make about the protectionist policies parallel to different free trade agreements around the world. He mentioned that talks with the United States on the government contracts issue had to get started. Premier Charest believes that abolishing protectionist measures and adopting a global vision instead would be best for Québec and Canada. Canada must endorse leadership to encourage countries to drop protectionist measures in favour of wide open markets. The fact that Canadian municipalities wish to favour local buying so to counterbalance the Americans, is according to Premier Charest a legitimate thing to do in the short term to put pressure on the American governments.

Listen to the interview on Source Médias Communications. Click here (available in French only)

To read the letter that was sent to Members of Parliament, click here (available in French only). AMETVS members wishing to send this letter to their Member of Parliament should contact Nathalie Boissonneault for the letter in a format that can be modified.

1 FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE CANADA. « Buy American Act and Buy America », Buy America Act, [on line], May 22, 2009. [http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/] (November 11, 2009).