Dear editor,
I am opposed to the Canada-China Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (FIPA), which is poised to become law on Nov. 1.
How can it be in Canada’s best interests if decisions made to protect our environment or improve our society by our municipal, provincial or federal governments can be challenged and overthrown by corporations that feel their expectation of profits will be limited or reduced?
This treaty will allow Chinese investors to sue Canada in private, unaccountable tribunals outside our court system. All lawsuits will be secret.
Canada has always before insisted on complete openness in investor–state arbitration.
I oppose this and other unfair and excessive corporate rights pacts.
Corporations must not be given this kind of control over Canada’s future. And Canadian corporations should not have these rights in China where democracy is already so fragile.
This issue must be debated in the House of Commons.
Kathie Woodley,
Courtenay