China is the worlds next super power. Is Canada about to be it's new super slave?
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A new FIPA ( Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement) with China has been signed
The details of the treaty have begun to surface now that it has been brought to parliament. If the regulations and obligations of this treaty are truly as described by Gus Van Harten, Canada could be putting itself in a risky position. The basic idea of a treaty such as this is to ensure that business and investments by each country within the other are treated the same as investments from any other country. The major concern however, is that this treaty allows corporations who believe to have been treated unfairly the ability to sue outside of Canadian courts. Using arbitrators, behind closed doors. If these arbitrators found Canadian government at fault, of treating Chinese investors wrongfully Canadian tax-payers could be caught footing the bill.
The opposition of this bill is fuelled by the lack of information given to the public. Just because the Harper administration has the right to keep talks a secret dosen't mean they should. With so much at stake for Canadians, you think they would have been brought into the discussion sooner. Although the definition of democracy can mean something different to each individual. I believe the government should be working for the best intrest of the population and thusly should be giving the public a voice on this issue.
This appears to be a deal based on money, but then again what isn't. It seems from my perspective that this treaty is being put into place to benefit large multinational corporations, by helping them gain international investments and doing so at the risk of the canadian taxpayers. Feel free to read the legal details of this new FIPA with China and come to your own conclusion.
and begun its process through parliament. The opposition to this treaty is loud and in full force. Although we would expect the opposition parties to object to any major decision made by the conservatives, it's the public who's apprehension over the details of the treaty that raises concern.
The details of the treaty have begun to surface now that it has been brought to parliament. If the regulations and obligations of this treaty are truly as described by Gus Van Harten, Canada could be putting itself in a risky position. The basic idea of a treaty such as this is to ensure that business and investments by each country within the other are treated the same as investments from any other country. The major concern however, is that this treaty allows corporations who believe to have been treated unfairly the ability to sue outside of Canadian courts. Using arbitrators, behind closed doors. If these arbitrators found Canadian government at fault, of treating Chinese investors wrongfully Canadian tax-payers could be caught footing the bill.
The opposition of this bill is fuelled by the lack of information given to the public. Just because the Harper administration has the right to keep talks a secret dosen't mean they should. With so much at stake for Canadians, you think they would have been brought into the discussion sooner. Although the definition of democracy can mean something different to each individual. I believe the government should be working for the best intrest of the population and thusly should be giving the public a voice on this issue.
This appears to be a deal based on money, but then again what isn't. It seems from my perspective that this treaty is being put into place to benefit large multinational corporations, by helping them gain international investments and doing so at the risk of the canadian taxpayers. Feel free to read the legal details of this new FIPA with China and come to your own conclusion.
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