Dear editor,
More than 75,000 Canadians across political lines signed a petition opposing the Canada-China FIPA trade deal.
A huge contingent of Canadians (not foreigners or radical environmentalists) have engaged in a letter-writing campaign sent to Conservative MPs offices opposing this FIPA deal.
Conservative MPs are sending out misleading and false talking points to make it sound like a good deal for this country. Don't be misled — this FIPA deal isn't in the best interests of our economy or our democracy.
There has been no real debate in Parliament, no vote and no report on the risks. FIPA would let foreign corporations sue Canada in secret unaccountable arbitration tribunals outside of Canadian courts.
We wouldn't be allowed to know what we are being sued for and for how much. We will not know how these lawsuits are undermining our democracy and economy. We would get all this with no option of cancelling the deal for 16 to 30 years.
It's no wonder the Chinese signed this agreement after 16 years of negotiations; we're giving them everything they've ever wanted in a trade deal, including our democracy and rights to self-determination.
Richard Goletski,
Comox