VOTE TO STOP FIPA!!
< http://www.leadnow.ca/stop-fipa-vote >
April 16, 2013
In 24 hours, a vote in Parliament could stop the secretive and extreme Canada-China investor deal, FIPA, for good.
Conservative MPs are deeply divided, and if we build a huge wave of pressure right now there's a chance we can stop this terrible trade deal once and for all.
Tell your MP and party leaders: VOTE TO STOP the secretive and extreme Canada-China FIPA!
< http://www.leadnow.ca/stop-fipa-vote >
VOTE TO STOP FIPA!!
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1
VOTE TO STOP FIPA!!
by Oscar » Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:21 am
- Oscar
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HUGHES: DEMOCRACY is NO place for SECRET DEALS!!!
by Oscar » Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:22 am
HUGHES: DEMOCRACY is NO place for SECRET DEALS!!!
TO: The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister, Government of Canada
pm@pm.gc.ca
April 17, 2013
Dear Mr Harper, Mr Mulcair, Mr Trudeau, Mr Plamondon, Ms May, and my MP:
DEMOCRACY is NO place for SECRET DEALS!!!
I am writing to call on you - and all of your colleagues - to vote to stop the secretive and extreme Canada-China Foreign Investment Protection Agreement (FIPA).
This investor deal would pave the way for a massive natural resource buyout and allow foreign corporations to sue the Canadian government in secret tribunals, restricting Canadians from making democratic decisions about our economy, environment and energy.
Canadians have a right to determine our future, but this agreement will grossly undermine the democratic rights of Canadians, and lock us into an inescapable path of foreign-ownership and resource extraction until at least 2040.
Let’s stop this FIPA and start over with a national conversation that brings Canadians together to make responsible choices about the wisest long-term stewardship of our natural resources.
Sincerely,
Elaine Hughes
S0E 0B0
cc:
Elizabeth May
Leader of the Green Party of Canada
Green Party of Canada
elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Mr André Bellavance
Critic for Trade, Natural Resources, Science and Technology
Bloc Québécois
andre.bellavance@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Thomas Mulcair
Leader of the Official Opposition
New Democratic Party
thomas.mulcair@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Justin Trudeau
Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Louis Plamondon
Parliamentary Leader
Bloc Québécois
louis.plamondon@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Mr Don Davies
Critic for Trade
New Democratic Party of Canada
don.davies@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Mr Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
Government of Canada
ed.fast@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Mr. Garry W. Breitkreuz
Yorkton-Melville, Saskatchewan
House of Commons
Ottawa Ontario
K1A0A6
garry.breitkreuz@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Mr Wayne Easter
Critic for Trade
Liberal Party of Canada
wayne.easter@parl.gc.ca
TO: The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister, Government of Canada
pm@pm.gc.ca
April 17, 2013
Dear Mr Harper, Mr Mulcair, Mr Trudeau, Mr Plamondon, Ms May, and my MP:
DEMOCRACY is NO place for SECRET DEALS!!!
I am writing to call on you - and all of your colleagues - to vote to stop the secretive and extreme Canada-China Foreign Investment Protection Agreement (FIPA).
This investor deal would pave the way for a massive natural resource buyout and allow foreign corporations to sue the Canadian government in secret tribunals, restricting Canadians from making democratic decisions about our economy, environment and energy.
Canadians have a right to determine our future, but this agreement will grossly undermine the democratic rights of Canadians, and lock us into an inescapable path of foreign-ownership and resource extraction until at least 2040.
Let’s stop this FIPA and start over with a national conversation that brings Canadians together to make responsible choices about the wisest long-term stewardship of our natural resources.
Sincerely,
Elaine Hughes
S0E 0B0
cc:
Elizabeth May
Leader of the Green Party of Canada
Green Party of Canada
elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Mr André Bellavance
Critic for Trade, Natural Resources, Science and Technology
Bloc Québécois
andre.bellavance@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Thomas Mulcair
Leader of the Official Opposition
New Democratic Party
thomas.mulcair@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Justin Trudeau
Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Louis Plamondon
Parliamentary Leader
Bloc Québécois
louis.plamondon@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Mr Don Davies
Critic for Trade
New Democratic Party of Canada
don.davies@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Mr Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
Government of Canada
ed.fast@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Mr. Garry W. Breitkreuz
Yorkton-Melville, Saskatchewan
House of Commons
Ottawa Ontario
K1A0A6
garry.breitkreuz@parl.gc.ca
cc:
Mr Wayne Easter
Critic for Trade
Liberal Party of Canada
wayne.easter@parl.gc.ca
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9264
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MAY Reply: Vote to stop the extreme Canada-China FIPA
by Oscar » Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:24 am
MAY Reply: Vote to stop the extreme Canada-China FIPA
----- Original Message -----
From: Elizabeth.May@parl.gc.ca
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 6:52 AM
Subject: RE: Vote to stop the extreme Canada-China FIPA
Thank you for your interest in the Canada-China Investment Treaty.
Since last fall I have received nearly 100,000 letters and emails about this important issue. If you have previously contacted me about this issue, I encourage you to keep pushing back against this agreement.
Although Stephen Harper prefers to keep Canadians in the dark about this Agreement’s grave implications for our sovereignty, security, and democracy, I am hopeful that we can force the issue into daylight. Your letter proves that you recognize the seriousness and urgency of what is about to take place behind our backs.
While the Canada-China Investment Treaty will likely be our most significant treaty since NAFTA, Stephen Harper can ratify the law at any time, without any public consultation, any consultation with First Nations, any Parliamentary debate, or even a single vote in the House of Commons. I do not accept such blatant disrespect for either the will of Canadians or for our democratic institutions.
Sadly, in addition to the anti-democratic process to approve this Agreement, it is the actual content of this investment deal with which I am most concerned. For the first time in Canadian history, the Canada-China Investment Treaty will allow investors (including Chinese state-owned enterprises such as CNOOC or Sinopec), to claim damages against the Canadian government in secret, for decisions taken at the municipal, provincial, territorial or federal level that result in a reduction of their expectation of profits. Even decisions of Canadian courts can give rise to damages.
Recently, Canada signed a trade agreement with Benin that has afforded Benin a fair agreement. In February, a bilateral treaty was signed with the African country. In this treaty, Benin was able to negotiate better terms, with more protection, than what Canada negotiated with China. I brought this concern to the House of Commons and asked the government why Canada was not able to negotiate as good a deal as Benin was.
You can see my question here:
< http://elizabethmaymp.ca/parliament/que ... nal-trade/ >
Realizing what the Conservatives were attempting to do, in secret and without debate, and realizing that we will be bound by this destructive Agreement for up to 31 years once it is ratified, I made a request in the House of Commons on two occasions for an Emergency Debate to allow Canada’s democratically elected Members of Parliament to study the implications of the Canada-China Investment Treaty.
Although both of my requests for an Emergency Debate were regrettably denied, we have not given up and are continuing to pursue all available options to stop the treaty’s approval. Given what is at stake, we hope that you will join us.
In addition to the tools found on our Canada-China Investment Treaty campaign site at < http://www.greenparty.ca/stop-the-sellout >, I urge you to push back against this sell-out of our sovereignty, security, and democracy, and help to educate Canadians by talking to your friends and neighbours, writing letters to the editor in local and national newspapers, calling in to talk radio shows, and filling up the comment boards of news website.
Crucially, this is not a partisan issue, and it is only by coming together to stand up for Canada that we will succeed in stopping this agreement.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth May, O.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for Saanich–Gulf Islands
Leader of the Green Party of Canada
----- Original Message -----
From: Elizabeth.May@parl.gc.ca
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 6:52 AM
Subject: RE: Vote to stop the extreme Canada-China FIPA
Thank you for your interest in the Canada-China Investment Treaty.
Since last fall I have received nearly 100,000 letters and emails about this important issue. If you have previously contacted me about this issue, I encourage you to keep pushing back against this agreement.
Although Stephen Harper prefers to keep Canadians in the dark about this Agreement’s grave implications for our sovereignty, security, and democracy, I am hopeful that we can force the issue into daylight. Your letter proves that you recognize the seriousness and urgency of what is about to take place behind our backs.
While the Canada-China Investment Treaty will likely be our most significant treaty since NAFTA, Stephen Harper can ratify the law at any time, without any public consultation, any consultation with First Nations, any Parliamentary debate, or even a single vote in the House of Commons. I do not accept such blatant disrespect for either the will of Canadians or for our democratic institutions.
Sadly, in addition to the anti-democratic process to approve this Agreement, it is the actual content of this investment deal with which I am most concerned. For the first time in Canadian history, the Canada-China Investment Treaty will allow investors (including Chinese state-owned enterprises such as CNOOC or Sinopec), to claim damages against the Canadian government in secret, for decisions taken at the municipal, provincial, territorial or federal level that result in a reduction of their expectation of profits. Even decisions of Canadian courts can give rise to damages.
Recently, Canada signed a trade agreement with Benin that has afforded Benin a fair agreement. In February, a bilateral treaty was signed with the African country. In this treaty, Benin was able to negotiate better terms, with more protection, than what Canada negotiated with China. I brought this concern to the House of Commons and asked the government why Canada was not able to negotiate as good a deal as Benin was.
You can see my question here:
< http://elizabethmaymp.ca/parliament/que ... nal-trade/ >
Realizing what the Conservatives were attempting to do, in secret and without debate, and realizing that we will be bound by this destructive Agreement for up to 31 years once it is ratified, I made a request in the House of Commons on two occasions for an Emergency Debate to allow Canada’s democratically elected Members of Parliament to study the implications of the Canada-China Investment Treaty.
Although both of my requests for an Emergency Debate were regrettably denied, we have not given up and are continuing to pursue all available options to stop the treaty’s approval. Given what is at stake, we hope that you will join us.
In addition to the tools found on our Canada-China Investment Treaty campaign site at < http://www.greenparty.ca/stop-the-sellout >, I urge you to push back against this sell-out of our sovereignty, security, and democracy, and help to educate Canadians by talking to your friends and neighbours, writing letters to the editor in local and national newspapers, calling in to talk radio shows, and filling up the comment boards of news website.
Crucially, this is not a partisan issue, and it is only by coming together to stand up for Canada that we will succeed in stopping this agreement.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth May, O.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for Saanich–Gulf Islands
Leader of the Green Party of Canada
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9264
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
NDP Reply: STOP FIPA!
by Oscar » Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:26 am
NDP Reply: STOP FIPA!
----- Original Message -----
From: don.davies@parl.gc.ca
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 12:25 PM
Subject: Canada-China FIPA - A Response from Don Davies, NDP Official Opposition Trade Critic
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns over the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA). I agree that this agreement raises serious concerns and deserves a thorough public debate.
The Canada-China FIPA provides an excellent example of why the NDP has long fought for a better, more open trade policy. This FIPA lacks the level of transparency and openness that Canadians deserve. And, once again, the Harper government has signed an agreement against the best interests of Canadians.
Among other things, this agreement exposes taxpayers to costly legal challenges via unaccountable tribunals that do not reflect acceptable standards of the rule of law. The dispute tribunals may conduct hearings in private at the mere request of one party. The pact does not guarantee Canadian investors full reciprocity with the rights that Chinese investors have secured and has a clause binding Canada for a period of 31 years. These are just some of the many concerns raised by this agreement.
While pursuing mutually beneficial economic relations with China is a positive goal for Canada, we must ensure that any investment or trade agreement we sign meets the standards Canadians want and deserve.
Alarmingly, the Conservatives have refused to send this agreement to Committee, where it could be studied in detail and where we could invite the input of stakeholders of all types.
As Official Opposition NDP International Trade Critic, I have been taking the lead in challenging the Conservative government on this FIPA deal. I have raised this issue in Question Period. I have written to Ed Fast, Minister for International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, calling on him to clarify the timeline for ratification of this FIPA, and furthermore postpone ratification of the Canada-China FIPA.
I have twice called on the House of Commons International Trade Committee to conduct a full study on this agreement. Finally, on the 18th of April, I introduced the following Motion in the House of Commons to stop the ratification of this treaty:
“That, in the opinion of this House, the government should inform the Government of the People's Republic of China, that it will not ratify the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.”
Unfortunately, the Liberals and Conservatives are joining together to defeat our motion. The Conservatives are unwilling to acknowledge the serious problems with this treaty. The Liberals merely want to study the FIPA in its current form.
New Democrats believe that the only responsible position is to stop this FIPA .
New Democrats remain strong in our commitment to fight for fair trade deals. We will continue to speak out against any trade deal that is imbalanced, negotiated in secret, or contains inadequate conditions relating to labour standards, human rights and the environment. We know that Canada can have an open, expansive trade policy that increases exports, builds good, value-added jobs for Canadians and raises living standards for the citizens of each trading nation.
Write your Conservative and Liberal MP’s and ask them to do the right thing and support the NDP Motion to stop this FIPA.
If you are interesting in having more information, follow our Facebook event up to the Vote on Monday night.
Again, I appreciate hearing from you.
Best regards,
Don
Don Davies, MP
Member of Parliament Vancouver Kingsway | Député Vancouver Kingsway
Critic for International Trade | Porte-parole, Commerce International
New Democratic Party | Nouveau Parti Démocratique
______________________________________________________
T. 613.943.0267 | T.604.775.6263
ndp.ca | npd.ca
dondavies.ca
----- Original Message -----
From: don.davies@parl.gc.ca
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 12:25 PM
Subject: Canada-China FIPA - A Response from Don Davies, NDP Official Opposition Trade Critic
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns over the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA). I agree that this agreement raises serious concerns and deserves a thorough public debate.
The Canada-China FIPA provides an excellent example of why the NDP has long fought for a better, more open trade policy. This FIPA lacks the level of transparency and openness that Canadians deserve. And, once again, the Harper government has signed an agreement against the best interests of Canadians.
Among other things, this agreement exposes taxpayers to costly legal challenges via unaccountable tribunals that do not reflect acceptable standards of the rule of law. The dispute tribunals may conduct hearings in private at the mere request of one party. The pact does not guarantee Canadian investors full reciprocity with the rights that Chinese investors have secured and has a clause binding Canada for a period of 31 years. These are just some of the many concerns raised by this agreement.
While pursuing mutually beneficial economic relations with China is a positive goal for Canada, we must ensure that any investment or trade agreement we sign meets the standards Canadians want and deserve.
Alarmingly, the Conservatives have refused to send this agreement to Committee, where it could be studied in detail and where we could invite the input of stakeholders of all types.
As Official Opposition NDP International Trade Critic, I have been taking the lead in challenging the Conservative government on this FIPA deal. I have raised this issue in Question Period. I have written to Ed Fast, Minister for International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, calling on him to clarify the timeline for ratification of this FIPA, and furthermore postpone ratification of the Canada-China FIPA.
I have twice called on the House of Commons International Trade Committee to conduct a full study on this agreement. Finally, on the 18th of April, I introduced the following Motion in the House of Commons to stop the ratification of this treaty:
“That, in the opinion of this House, the government should inform the Government of the People's Republic of China, that it will not ratify the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.”
Unfortunately, the Liberals and Conservatives are joining together to defeat our motion. The Conservatives are unwilling to acknowledge the serious problems with this treaty. The Liberals merely want to study the FIPA in its current form.
New Democrats believe that the only responsible position is to stop this FIPA .
New Democrats remain strong in our commitment to fight for fair trade deals. We will continue to speak out against any trade deal that is imbalanced, negotiated in secret, or contains inadequate conditions relating to labour standards, human rights and the environment. We know that Canada can have an open, expansive trade policy that increases exports, builds good, value-added jobs for Canadians and raises living standards for the citizens of each trading nation.
Write your Conservative and Liberal MP’s and ask them to do the right thing and support the NDP Motion to stop this FIPA.
If you are interesting in having more information, follow our Facebook event up to the Vote on Monday night.
Again, I appreciate hearing from you.
Best regards,
Don
Don Davies, MP
Member of Parliament Vancouver Kingsway | Député Vancouver Kingsway
Critic for International Trade | Porte-parole, Commerce International
New Democratic Party | Nouveau Parti Démocratique
______________________________________________________
T. 613.943.0267 | T.604.775.6263
ndp.ca | npd.ca
dondavies.ca
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9264
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
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