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”.

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:

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 means the Joint Commission established under paragraph 1 of Article 18.‍1 of the Agreement.‍ (Commission)

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Period of order

(2) Unless repealed, an order made under subsection (1) has effect for the period specified in the order.

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)