The Canadian International Council (CIC) and the Asia Pacific Foundation (APF) are proud to Present Trade Talks: Understanding the Trans-Pacific Partnership Deal.
Guest Speakers: Honorable Ed Fast, Former Minister of International Trade and Asia Pacific Foundation Senior Fellow Hugh Stevens.

Trying to understand what the TPP is all about and how it will affect Canadians?

Come learn from the experts at this exclusive event! Both speakers will be asked a series of questions to generate an open discussion about the deal.

A few examples:
– What is the TPP deal?
– What role does Canada play in the agreement?
– How does the TPP differ from NAFTA?
– How will the TPP affect the current Sustainable Development goals?
– Will the TPP promote higher labour standards? (In countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia etc.)

Come and join us for this exciting informational workshop followed by Q&A session from the speakers.

This event is part of a Community-Based Experiential Learning initiative between UBC Political Science Class 363 studying Canadian Foreign Policy and the Canadian International Council. The event is run and organized by a group of students as part of their final project.

Speakers’ Biographies
The Honourable Ed Fast was first elected to the House of Commons in 2006, and was re-elected in 2008, 2011, and 2015. He had previously served for two terms as an Abbotsford School Trustee and for three terms as a member of Abbotsford City Council.

A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Ed practiced corporate and commercial law for 24 years.

On May 18, 2011, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Ed to his cabinet to serve as Minister of International Trade. He assumed responsibility for the Government of Canada’s Global Commerce Strategy, which aims to create a more competitive Canadian economy by deepening Canada’s trade and investment ties in large, dynamic and fast-growing economies around the world. His recent accomplishments include the historic Canada European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in principle and the signed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). He also oversaw negotiations on free trade agreements with other countries including India and Japan. In July, 2013 Minister Fast was reappointed Minister of International Trade, making him the longest serving Trade Minister under the Conservative government of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Prior to his appointment to cabinet, Ed served as a member of the standing committees on Canadian Heritage, and Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Justice & Human Rights.

Minister Fast’s Private Member’s Bill C-277 to amend the Criminal Code to increase the maximum sentence for luring children over the Internet for sexual purposes from 5 to 10 years in prison received Royal Assent in 2007 and became the law of Canada.

In 2011, he was appointed Queen’s Counsel for British Columbia, and more recently was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for service to his community and country.

Following the 2015 Federal Election, Ed was appointed to the Shadow Cabinet by Conservative Party Interim Leader, the Hon. Rona Ambrose. He currently serves as the Official Opposition Critic for the Environment and Climate Change.

Minister Fast and his wife, Annette have lived in Abbotsford, British Columbia, for over 33 years. They have four daughters, two sons-in-law and four grandchildren.

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Hugh Stephens has more than 35 years of government and business experience in the Asia-Pacific region. Before returning to Canada in December 2009, he served as Senior Vice President, Public Policy (Asia Pacific) for Time Warner, based at the company’s regional headquarters in Hong Kong, and continued to serve as a Senior Advisor to the company until 2013. Prior to joining Time Warner in January 2001, Mr. Stephens spent 28 years with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), including postings to 5 Canadian missions in Asia. His final assignment was as Assistant Deputy Minister for Policy and Communications at DFAIT. Mr. Stephens has served on the Executive Committee of the Boards of the US National Center for APEC and the US-Korea Business Council. He is currently the President of the Victoria branch of the Canadian International Council and an Associate Faculty member in the School of Business at Royal Roads University in Victoria.

Event Partner
Asia Pacific Foundation

Date and Time
Thursday March 31, 2016
6:00pm to 8:30pm

Venue
350 W Georgia St
Vancouver Public Library
Morris J. Wosk Boardroom
Vancouver, BC V6B 6B1

Registration
This is a free event. Please reserve a spot by registering online.

Event Contact
Terralynn Forsyth | nikaein.a@gmail.com