Harper's human rights agenda is steller now getting information through torture of Canadian citizens is OK
Harper picks up where Trudeau left off in China
- Thread starter mentalfloss
- Start date
Thought I'd update your thread MF.
Back in 2012:
Canada-China FIPPA agreement may be unconstitutional, treaty law expert says | Vancouver Observer
Huh. Good for lawyers, more on that in a minute.
At the same time, some business leaders came out saying the deal was a bad one:
Canada-China trade deal is too one-sided | Financial Post
And why would China agree to apply our laws? The two way trade is hugely tipped in one direction. At the time the deal was first agreed to in 2012, the trade balance was tipped to a $30 billion deficit for Canada.
Fast forward to 2014, and now the agreement comes into effect in just a little over two weeks.
For just a little more context, I said I would give more on the 'good for lawyers' part up above. Canada is already one of the leading nations in a catgeory that nobody wants to lead in, lawsuits under trade agreements. The countries ahead of Canada? Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, and the Czech Republic. Fine company...giving away our sovereignty some might call that. That's essentially what that means.
Back in 2012:
Canada-China FIPPA agreement may be unconstitutional, treaty law expert says | Vancouver Observer
According to international law, a foreign investment protection agreement (FIPA) treaty binds the state regardless of changes in federal or provincial governments.
"It's a done deal between the two countries—by signing a treaty, the Harper government can bind future governments and bind the Canadian electorate for 31 years," Van Harten said.
...
He noted that FIPPA is good news for lawyers, who stand to profit from the potential multi-million dollar lawsuits.
"The lawyers who work in this field will like that—their business is to sue," he said. "It's not good for Canadian taxpayers."
"It's a done deal between the two countries—by signing a treaty, the Harper government can bind future governments and bind the Canadian electorate for 31 years," Van Harten said.
...
He noted that FIPPA is good news for lawyers, who stand to profit from the potential multi-million dollar lawsuits.
"The lawyers who work in this field will like that—their business is to sue," he said. "It's not good for Canadian taxpayers."
At the same time, some business leaders came out saying the deal was a bad one:
Canada-China trade deal is too one-sided | Financial Post
This week, a casualty of China’s unfair treatment of foreign investors spoke privately about the new trade deal signed between Ottawa and Beijing. His mining company was there, spent millions and was forced to sell, a de facto expropriation, to a Chinese “company.”
...
“There is nothing in this deal with China [the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement] that will protect Canadians there because they have not agreed to apply our laws there,” he said. “It’s quite unbelievable.”
...
“There is nothing in this deal with China [the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement] that will protect Canadians there because they have not agreed to apply our laws there,” he said. “It’s quite unbelievable.”
And why would China agree to apply our laws? The two way trade is hugely tipped in one direction. At the time the deal was first agreed to in 2012, the trade balance was tipped to a $30 billion deficit for Canada.
Fast forward to 2014, and now the agreement comes into effect in just a little over two weeks.
For just a little more context, I said I would give more on the 'good for lawyers' part up above. Canada is already one of the leading nations in a catgeory that nobody wants to lead in, lawsuits under trade agreements. The countries ahead of Canada? Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, and the Czech Republic. Fine company...giving away our sovereignty some might call that. That's essentially what that means.