The Multilateral Agreement on Investment ( )

In our view, the draft MAI is fundamentally flawed. On the one hand, it undermines the capacity of democratically elected governments to develop, deliver and protect public policies to serve the needs of their citizens. On the other hand, it provides foreign-based corporations with a set of tools to ratchet down unwanted economic, social, cultural and environmental laws, policies and programs. As a result, the MAI threatens not only Canada's sovereignty as a nation but, perhaps even more importantly, the democratic rights and freedoms of Canadians.

The MAI has emerged as a major concern and priority for our members. A growing awareness of the main components of this global investment treaty, coupled with the negative experiences of NAFTA and reinforced by the shroud of secrecy that has hung over the Paris negotiations, have sewn seeds of public fear and mistrust concerning the MAI. Many Canadians believe that our cultural heritage, natural environment, labour standards, universal healthcare, public education, social security, food quality, and public services would be seriously threatened by the MAI.

We maintain that, in accordance with the United Nations' Charter on the Economic Rights and Duties of Nation States, governments have both the right and the responsibility to regulate foreign investment in ways that serve national development priorities. Central to these priorities are the basic economic, social, and cultural needs of people, along with the integrity of the environment itself. The MAI is designed for a completely different set of priorities. Chaotic international investment and currency speculation has had a devastating impact on Mexico and several countries in Asia and is spreading. The proposed MAI does nothing to correct this situation. Recent events have shown that there is, in fact, a real need for a global investment treaty to regulate capital -- based on organizing principles similar to those outlined in the UN Charter.

The MAI is being drafted by rich nations without any participation from developing countries on whom this agreement would ultimately be imposed. The MAI would severely restrict developing countries from protecting their environment and improving their public services, education, health care systems and other sectors. The MAI would particularly seriously impact indigenous people, peasants and women. It would prevent developing countries from taking steps to ensure investment brings broadly shared social and economic benefits.

As the federal cabinet meets this week and considers Canada's negotiating position on the MAI in preparation for the critical bargaining session scheduled to take place in Paris, February 16 to 20, we would like to make the following points clear.

First, tens of thousands of Canadians are participating in public forums from coast to coast and joining in the campaign to oppose the MAI. Provincial and municipal governments are considering the impact of the MAI on their jurisdictions and, in many cases including the governments of British Columbia, the Yukon and Prince Edward Island, stating their serious concerns or outright opposition to the proposed treaty.

Second, while opposition grows at home, the MAI is facing major obstacles internationally. Negotiators from OECD countries have tabled more than 600 pages of reservations to the draft treaty.

Our national campaign to stop the MAI continues to gain momentum. We are intensifying our efforts at all levels to inform Canadians about the MAI and to mobilize opposition to this deal. We are working at all levels - federal, provincial and municipal - as well as with allies in other OECD countries. Through our combined memberships, we intend to reach out to the majority of Canadians with a common voice and message about the potential dangers of the MAI.

Signatories include:

Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)

Canadian Teachers Federation

Sierra Club of Canada

National Action Committee on the Status of Women

Canadian Federation of Students (CFS)

Canadian Health Coalition

The Council of Canadians

Association of Canadian Publishers

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

Greenpeace Canada

Canadian Autoworkers (CAW)

Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)

Sierra Youth Coalition

Centre for Social Justice

For more information: The Council of Canadians (613) 233-2773