The Multilateral Agreement on Investment ( )

We've all grown up in this country secure in the knowledge that certain social rights such as old age security, unemployment insurance and a universal pension plan, were carved in stone and available to all Canadians.

Not anymore.

Over the past few years, in an effort to harmonize Canada's social programs downward to meet our American cousins' standards, many of these rights have been squeezed to the point where they've actually fallen lower than the paltry U.S. guidelines.

Much of the downward push was precipitated by free trade. Indeed, prior to the FTA, 87 per cent of unemployed Canadians were eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits compared with only 52 per cent in the U.S. After the FTA was proclaimed in 1989, the federal government started to roll back Canada's UI program. By 1996, after three more sets of UI reforms, less than 40 per cent of unemployed Canadians were eligible for much lower benefits. The name of the game has been to harmonize our social programs with the U.S.

But if free trade damaged our social rights, the coming MAI (Multinational Agreement on Investment) will likely trample them into the ground.

What is the ?

The MAI--now being negotiated in Paris by the 29 richest countries, including Canada--will help facilitate the movement of money across international borders by imposing a new set of rules restricting countries from using legislation, policies and programs that are seen as impediments to the free flow of capital. In other words, it is a constitution for the largest corporations to rule the world.

•	The MAI would allow U.S.-based, profit-oriented Health Management Organizations (HMOs) to open new markets in Canada and take over parts of our Medicare system.	•	The MAI would prevent the federal government from carrying out its election promise of a national pharmacare program if it is based on the "least-cost" route of using Canada's generic drug industry.
•	The MAI would allow foreign corporations to pry open new markets in public education. Under the treaty, purchase of school supplies could not be limited to domestic companies.	•	The MAI would allow foreign investors in charter schools to demand the same access to public financing from provincial governments as public schools.
•	The MAI would allow foreign enterprises the same eligibility for service contracts in areas such as welfare and workfare as domestic companies.	•	The MAI could prevent CPP funds from being used as a source of capital for provincial governments for such things as social benefits and public services.
•	The MAI would prevent governments from further accelerating Canada's agricultural support and consumer protection programs.	•	The MAI would allow foreign companies to bid equally with Canadian firms if a government decides to contract out public services like bus transportation or garbage pick-up.
•	The MAI would restrict governments at any level from introducing a new public service like universal, non-profit childcare.

Canada has always been defined by its social programs and public services. Canadians are now asking how they can help preserve those rights.