VOW Position on the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA)

by Sandy Greenberg, for the national board of the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace

Are you concerned about the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) the Harper Conservatives are set to ratify with China?

Author Andrew Nikiforuk warns us, “Appallingly, the treaty would give Sinopec, one of the big Chinese backers of the Northern Gateway pipeline, the right to sue the government of British Columbia if it blocks the project. …Barring a revolt within Harper’s own party, the trade deal automatically becomes law on Nov. 1.”

Chinese companies will be able to sue all levels of Canadian government in secrecy. FIPA could have serious negative effects on the ability of Canadian governments to set policies in the public interest, and we will be committed to it for at least 30 years.

I urge the members of the Parliamentary Committee on International Trade conduct a full study on the Canada-China Foreign Investment Agreement (FIPA), postponingratification until our MPs can hear from Canadians on this issue.

Indeed, the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace is asking all MPs to reject the Canada-China FIPA.

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