Foreign Affairs committee  I think it's a huge almost culture shift in the way that governments and civil society organizations can approach fair trade today. I think there are recent and stunning examples. We accredit two significant programs in Canada: the fair trade towns and cities program, and the fai

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, well, I would say not enough, but there are significant changes.

Foreign Affairs committee  Okay, but I do congratulate Loblaws. We're doing a pilot project right now with Loblaws on fair trade flowers from Ecuador. So it's those types of initiatives.

Foreign Affairs committee  —but that's an immediate thing. So to answer your question, Mr. Dewar, I think the Government of Canada can take a lead, mandate, and encourage the procurement departments right across the country, because fair trade products are available in over 70 product categories and right

Foreign Affairs committee  Sorry?

Foreign Affairs committee  It has a direct link. I'll cite, for example, the retail food chains in Canada—and not just Loblaws—that are demanding more and more to see the chain of custody of products coming from the south, demanding to see that if a producer organization or a coffee producer in Peru is cer

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you very much. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Tom Smith. I'm the executive director of Fairtrade Canada, and I've worked in the fair trade movement and with co-operative organizations, both