Project Overview
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) project tasked Workforce WindsorEssex with gathering input from business, cross-border commuters and other interested parties about the modernization of the (NAFTA). As a border community, the effects of a modernized NAFTA will be felt first in Windsor-Essex. The movement of goods and people are equally important considerations for a community like ours. A NAFTA Working Group was formed with representatives from WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation, the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, the University of Windsor’s Cross-Border Institute, St. Clair College and the Institute for Border Logistics and Security as well as provincial and federal government representatives to work together on this important issue.
Project Status – COMPLETED
This project has three sub-components, including the formation of a NAFTA Working Group; a survey of business, cross-border commuters and other interested parties; and a final report with region-specific recommendations for Canada’s negotiators.
The NAFTA Recommendations from Windsor-Essex Report was publicly released on Thursday, April 5th, 2018 at a media conference held at Plasman Group in Tecumseh, Ontario. A copy of the news release launching the report can be viewed here.
For more information about the working group, survey and the final report, see below:
NAFTA Working Group
Workforce WindsorEssex continues to work with several local organizations as part of a local NAFTA Working Group. The WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation, the Windsor Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Windsor-Essex, St. Clair College, the Cross-Border Institute, and the Institute for Border Logistics and Security, along with provincial and federal partners continue to be committed to providing a collective voice on local matters of importance.
NAFTA Survey
To better understand the importance of NAFTA on local trade and labour mobility, a local survey was conducted asking businesses, commuters, and other community partners about what they see as the biggest issues, concerns, and opportunities as part of the NAFTA renegotiations. The survey, the only one to be conducted at a community level in North America, closed on September 30, 2017. In total, 151 respondents took the time to provide their views, including 76 businesses, 32 commuters and 43 other interested organizations or individuals. The survey, the only one to be conducted at a community level in North America, closed on September 30, 2017.
