The Globe and Mail reports, “Conservative MPs defeated a last minute push for Parliamentary hearings on a Canada-China investment treaty, which cabinet will be able to enact into law within days. …The trade agreement was signed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Vladivostok, Russia on Sept. 8 and tabled in the House of Commons on Sept. 26. It can become law through a cabinet order early next month. Because it is not a piece of legislation, there is no requirement for it to be debated and voted on by Parliament.”

“Both (NDP trade critic Don) Davies and Green Party MP Elizabeth May – who has been a vocal critic of the treaty – say they’ve received over 60,000 emails in recent days protesting the deal. The email campaigns appear to be largely organized by the citizen advocacy website LeadNow.ca, the Council of Canadians and opposition MPs.”

“Critics of the deal express concern that it will allow Chinese companies to sue Canadian governments at all levels for alleged breaches of the treaty’s terms. Gus Van Harten, who teaches international investment law at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School, noted the provinces have largely been silent on the issue even though they could have their policies challenged before new tribunals created under the treaty.”

To take action with the Council of Canadians ACTION ALERT against the Canada-China FIPPA, please go to http://canadians.org/action/2012/Canada-China-FIPA.html.

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Brent Patterson

Brent Patterson is a political activist, writer and the executive director of Peace Brigades International-Canada. He lives in Ottawa on the traditional, unceded and unsurrendered territories of the Algonquin...