The Canada Trade Agreement Secretariat has an open comment process on FIPA -- and we've set up a quick-and-easy form for you to submit your comments through on the right! The most important points to make sure to include are that:
You're opposed to FIPA; and
You want a new, proper Environmental Assessment of the treaty's impact.
If you want more information, we've also included below some facts that a legal expert prepared that you can use for your public comment. Some of them are pretty wonky, we know :-) Feel free to use any or none of these points -- the more you can write the letter in your own words, the more powerful it will be.
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Additional information:
FIPA would bind Canada for 31 years and let foreign corporations sue the Canadian government for huge amounts of money if we do anything to limit their profits -- like try to protect the environment with new regulations. These lawsuits would be decided by unaccountable arbitrators in secret tribunals outside of Canada’s court system.
Our government has not been transparent and accountable to the public. There has been no real debate in Parliament, no vote, and no reports on the risks. There was a whole election fought over NAFTA. If this is such a good deal, why don’t they want us to hear about it?
Canadians don't want to have to tell our grandchildren that we destroyed our environment and natural resources by letting this treaty pass.
FIPA may have serious ramifications on the Treaty Process and on constitutional obligations to consult and accommodate First Nations where their traditional territories, resources and cultural practices are at risk from industrial development.
FIPA potentially negates the ability of government to legislate changes in environmental regulations, royalty rates, subsidies and any other laws that impact profitability.
FIPA has serious constitutional implications which could have grave impacts on the environment, economy and Canadian sovereignty.
The existing Environmental Assessment was flawed. It did not allow for sufficient assessment and public comment based on the treaty text, and did not provide adequate information on underlying investment flows to which the treaty will apply or on the dozens of investor claims and arbitration awards under comparable treaties where health or environmental measures have been challenged by investors or subject to compensation orders by arbitrators.