Vol. 147, No. 5 — February 27, 2013

Registration

SI/2013-16 February 27, 2013

CANADA–PANAMA ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY ACT

Order Fixing April 1, 2013 as the Day on which the Act Comes into Force, other than Sections 60 to 64

P.C. 2013-138 February 14, 2013

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister for International Trade, pursuant to section 65 of the Canada–Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act, chapter 26 of the Statutes of Canada, 2012, fixes April 1, 2013 as the day on which that Act comes into force, other than sections 60 to 64, which came into force on assent.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

The Act being brought into force implements the Free Trade Agreement and the related agreements on the environment and labour cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Panama, signed on May 14, 2010.

The general provisions of the Act specify that no recourse may be taken on the basis of the provisions of Part 1 of the Act or any order made under that Part, or the provisions of the Free Trade Agreement or the related agreements themselves, without the consent of the Attorney General of Canada.

Part 1 of the Act approves the Free Trade Agreement and the related agreements. It designates the Minister for International Trade as the principal representative of Canada on the Joint Commission and provides for the appointment by the Minister of other persons to represent Canada on any committee or subcommittee referred to in Article 21.01 of the Free Trade Agreement. It provides for the payment by Canada of its share of the expenditures associated with the operation of the institutional aspects of the Free Trade Agreement and authorizes the Governor in Council to make orders for carrying out the provisions of the Act.

Part 2 of the Act amends existing laws in order to bring them into conformity with Canada’s obligations under the Free Trade Agreement and the related agreement on labour cooperation.

Part 3 of the Act provides that the provisions of the Act come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.