I am writing in regards to the lack of coverage about the Foreign Investment Protection Agreement with China. I find the liberties and protection granted to Chinese companies operating in Canada unnerving and I call for open discussion of the agreement before it is ratified. In one week PM Harper could commit Canada to the most sweeping trade deal in a generation without a single debate or vote. If the Canada-China FIPA passes, it will pave the way for China's massive companies to spend billions buying-out Canada's natural resource companies. Under FIPA, China's companies can sue Canadian governments, federal, provincial or municipal, in secret tribunals outside the Canadian court system if those governments do anything that would limit the companies' profits in Canada.
The FIPA would tie our hands for 31 years, making it possible for China's companies to challenge Canadian laws that create jobs, protect our environment and build healthy communities with billion-dollar lawsuits that would cost taxpayers dearly. Canada has already spent hundreds of millions on penalties from lawsuits launched under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and right now Belgium is facing a $3 billion suit from one of China's companies because of a similar foreign investor agreement. It's short terms gains with no forethought about long lasting damage to Canadian infrastructure and environment.
Duncan Mackay
Prince George
