Urgent: Harper could pass Canada-China FIPA deal TODAY

Details: Published on Sunday, 14 September 2014 23:00; Written by editor

Breaking news from Ottawa: We’ve just heard that Prime Minister Harper could be about to ratify the secretive and extreme Canada-China FIPA investors deal in the next few hours.[1]

This deal would allow China’s massive companies to sue Canadian governments in secret tribunals if we make decisions that put Canadian interests ahead of their corporate profits – restricting Canadians from making democratic decisions about our economy, environment and energy.[2]

It gets worse: If Prime Minister Harper approves this international investors’ deal it could bind us for 31 years.

As you may know, the Hupacasath First Nation are using their constitutionally protected legal rights to challenge this deal in court. The court case is still in progress, and the court has not yet released its decision on the Hupacasath’s appeal. If Harper ratifies FIPA it would show total disrespect for Canada's courts and the the judicial process.

We know that many Conservative MPs are deeply uncomfortable with the secretive and extreme Canada-China investor deal,[3] and we need to turn up the pressure right now and demand they stop Harper from ratifying this terrible deal.

Can you join our emergency phone-call action today to turn up the pressure to stop FIPA? Here’s how to make your call…
Emergency Phone Call Action to Stop FIPA

1. Decide who to call. You can find your MP, and their phone number, here:

http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseofCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC&PostalCode=V8X 1S3

If you live in a riding with a Conservative MP, please call your MP. You can try their Ottawa number or their constituency office, as many MPs are back in their ridings today.

If you're not in a riding with a Conservative MP, please call one of these key cabinet members:

Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade: 613-995-0183
Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development: 613-992-2235
Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice & Attorney General of Canada: 613-992-6022
John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs: 613-996-0984
Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons: 613-996-7752
Stephen Harper, Prime Minister: 613-992-4211

(Note, if you can’t call long distance, you can also call the Parliament Toll Free number at 1-866-599-4999 and ask to be transferred.)

2. Make the call. Introduce yourself, and tell them you want them to stop the Canada-China FIPA investor deal. You can use the following points if you like:

I’m calling about the Canada-China investors deal, FIPA. I’ve heard Prime Minister Harper is about to pass it.
I am concerned about the deal. If FIPA passes, China’s companies can take over Canadian resources and then sue Canadian governments in secret if the government does anything that threatens the company’s profits.
The Hupacasath First Nation still have a legal challenge ongoing against FIPA, and the court has not yet released its decision. If Harper passes FIPA while the court case is ongoing that would be deeply disrespectful of Canada’s courts.
I want you to make sure Harper does not pass FIPA.

Nearly 100,000 of us in the Leadnow community have taken action against FIPA over the last two years. Together, we’ve done so much - from flooding our MPs with messages and calls, to funding ads, and crowd-funding hundreds of thousands of dollars to help a tiny First Nation fight FIPA in court. We’ve helped to delay this terrible deal longer than anyone thought possible.

Ratifying FIPA this afternoon would be a typical move out of Harper’s playbook: disrespect Canada’s courts, and announce a terrible decision on a Friday afternoon, hoping nobody notices. Well, we’re noticing, and we’re not going to let him get away with it.

Please, make your call right now.

Thank you for all that you do,

Matthew, Jamie, Kelly, Julia, and the whole Leadnow team.

Sources:

[1] Harper OKs Canada-China foreign investment deal after lengthy delay (CBC)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-oks-canada-china-foreign-investment-deal-after-lengthy-delay-1.2764075

[2] For more background information, see Leadnow’s campaign to stop the Canada-China FIPA
http://www.leadnow.ca/stop-fipa/

[3] Delayed China trade deal reflects Tory dissent, NDP says (CBC)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/delayed-china-trade-deal-reflects-tory-dissent-ndp-says-1.1307131

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