They're suing you
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00
- Written by editor
Big oil is suing Canada for $250 million over a fracking ban.
Tell the Trudeau government to scrap the dangerous rules in NAFTA that allow these outrageous corporate lawsuits.
Right now, Lone Pine Resources Inc is suing Canada for $250 million, over a temporary fracking ban put in place to protect the St. Lawrence River. [1-2]
What’s worse, the lawsuit is happening outside the Canadian legal system. Lone Pine launched the lawsuit using NAFTA’s extreme “investor state dispute settlement” (ISDS) system, which allows billionaire corporations to sue Canada in secret corporate courts if our policies interfere with their profits. [3]
Lone Pine is suing our government for putting the environment before their profits -- and their lawsuit is just the tip of the iceberg. Corporations have already used ISDS rules to pillage millions from the public purse -- and it has to stop. [4]
The Trudeau government is currently renegotiating NAFTA -- and they could advocate to remove ISDS and end these outrageous corporate lawsuits. But billionaire corporations are fighting hard to protect the ISDS system, and we need to make our voices louder if we’re going to stop it. [5]
The Lone Pine lawsuit is just the tip of the iceberg. Because of ISDS rules in NAFTA, Canada is the most sued country in the Global North, and is currently facing over $2.6 billion in ISDS lawsuits. [6]
Billionaire CEOs, the Chamber of Commerce, and an army of corporate lobbyists are desperate to entrench ISDS in a re-negotiated NAFTA. The head of the Business Council of Canada recently said he’s had “extensive opportunities” to meet with Canada’s top NAFTA negotiators about keeping ISDS. [7]
We need to fight back. One of us sending a message might not make a difference, but if tens of thousands of us write in calling on Canada to stand up for democracy and get ISDS out of NAFTA, our voices will become too loud to ignore.
We’re in this together,
Brittany and Jolan on behalf of the entire Leadnow team
Sources:
[3-4] http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/01/14/canada-sued-investor-state-dispute-ccpa_n_6471460.html
[6] see 3-4 above
[7] see 5 above
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