Centre Wellington is very close to meeting all the criteria for becoming a fair trade community – but council in committee of the whole decided May 10 it wants more information before committing its support to the movement.
Economic development officer Dave Rushton said in his report that the economic development committee, through its Savour Elora Fergus local food program, joined a committee of residents interested in making the township a fair trade town.
The idea behind fair trade is to promote the purchase and use of fair trade products. He explained a fair trade designation on a product indicates it is grown in a sustainable manner, and with fair trade practices.
“The products in question are typically those used broadly in everyday life and are not grown in our country,” the report said. The classics are coffee, tea, and chocolate.”
The report continued, “It is recognized than non-sustainable growing practices and unfair treatment of workers and growers are not things we would wish to support, even passively. Very little in the way of costs enable us to indicate our support or an initiative that speaks to our own values while benefiting many.
“A fair trade designation is another indicator of what makes Centre Wellington a great place to live and work,” he said.
Rushton’s report proposed two things. First, the township support the efforts of the fair trade movement and promise to make every effort to purchase fair trade products for meetings and events.
The second was that township employee Barb Lee be appointed as a staff member to ensure the continued commitment to the township’s fair trade town status.
Rushton said the township has met all the requirements for the status except for township support. It has enough businesses, organizations, and church groups supporting it, and has received enough media coverage about fair trade to qualify.
But councillor Fred Morris wondered how council can justify coming down on the side of one business over another to keep fair trade status.
Rushton said it is the same as supporting the buy local movement.
But Morris said he is concerned about appointing a township staff member to oversee purchases. “You’re putting this township squarely in one camp,” he said.
Rushton said the township supports buying local beef.
Morris said it does not do that through a motion of council.
Councillor Shawn Watters said he is fully behind the idea.
But councillor Walt Visser has doubts. He said he sees chocolate from Switzerland for sale in a fair trade shop, and wondered, “How does that help the third world?”
John Markvart, a citizen promoting fair trade, said Lee would be in place simply to promote education.
He explained once a town has fair trade status, it has to hold two promotional events a year and also does a report on its efforts as a fair trade town.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj asked Morris is he wants more time to consider the issue.
Morris said he does. “I am concerned I am committing myself to something I’m just starting to learn about,” he said, noting he had looked up fair trade on the internet earlier in the day.
He moved to defer a decision, and council agreed.
Morris said, “I want to know what the designation entails – now and in the future.”
