International Trade committee  I'm generally familiar with the area of provincial regulations and legislation, but I'm not an expert in it; the environment ministry has worked with their opposite members in the provinces. My understanding is that many provinces in fact have prohibited removal of water in containers over a certain size.

International Trade committee  Let me try a brief response. I think the statement made by the three NAFTA parties in 1993 is quite clear. I think that stands on its merit. Further to that, we have then amended our International Boundary Waters Treaty Act to address this very issue by prohibiting bulk water removals.

International Trade committee  Thank you for the question. I will try to answer it. I think the NAFTA statement issued by the three countries makes it very clear that water in its natural state is not a good or a commodity and therefore is not subject to any trade agreement. It is in fact a resource. The whole approach we've taken in amending the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act, which implements the boundary waters treaty between Canada and the United States, is to look at and deal with water as a natural resource, to protect it in its basin and to prohibit removals out of the water basin.

International Trade committee  Let me give you the other side of that. Yes, when water is put in bottles, as an example, then it becomes a good and is subject to trade agreements. But let me also try to address the other question you raise. Yes, absolutely, when we amended the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act, this was specifically designed for the federal government to operate within federal jurisdiction.

International Trade committee  —but it's important that you look at the entire statement, because it is quite a good, comprehensive statement that the NAFTA does not create rights to water as a natural resource. Only when water becomes a commodity or a good is it governed by trade agreements. The full statement makes it quite clear.

International Trade committee  I'm sorry, could you repeat that question, please?

International Trade committee  There is a statement that was issued by the three parties to the NAFTA agreement in 1993—

International Trade committee  Thank you very much for the question, sir. I've been working in this capacity since 2001. I participated in the amendments to the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act as it was in both the House and the Senate.

International Trade committee  I do. I should also mention that I served at the Canadian embassy in Washington from 1988 to 1992.