The MAI and our Sovereignty

The Multilateral Agreement on Investment ( )
and our Sovereignty

If there were ever doubts that large multinational corporations care nothing about national loyalty, consider the words of Ford Motor Company chairman Alex Trottman:
"Ford isn't even an American company, strictly speaking. We're global. We're investing all over the world. Forty per cent of our employees already live and work outside the United States, and that's rising. Our managers are multinational. We teach them to think and act globally."

He's not alone.

Those sentiments are being echoed in boardrooms from New York to Tokyo, and everywhere in between.
Is it any wonder, then, that the force behind the new Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) are the Fortune 500 corporations that are quietly pushing passage of the treaty now being negotiated in Paris by the 29 richest countries--including Canada. Once passed, it must be ratified by each country's legislature.

What is the ?

The prime objective of the MAI is to allow movement of money across international borders by imposing a new set of rules restricting countries from using legislation, policies and programs seen as impediments to the free flow of capital. In other words, it is a constitution for the largest corporations to rule the world.

If the effects of free trade have you concerned about the future of our country, just wait until corporations use their rights under the MAI to challenge existing legislation.

• The MAI would allow transnational corporations the status of nation states with certain political rights. • The MAI would prevent a country from imposing performance requirements on foreign companies, and confers rights and privileges to these companies without corresponding responsibilities and obligations to society, communities or the common good.

• The MAI would prevent our public enter-
prises from acting in any way other than in accordance with commercial considerations. Crown corporations will no longer be able to favour domestic producers over foreign companies when it comes to purchasing or selling goods and services or applying regulations to the marketplace. • The MAI could give foreign corporations the tools to force governments to "roll back" legislation on consumer protection, foreign ownership, social programs and regional development.

• The MAI could give foreign companies the tools to force governments to impose "sunset" provisions on laws that conflict with the new investment regime--with three exceptions: national security, public order and international peace and security. • The MAI would prevent our government from regaining public control over a sector of the economy that had been previously privatized. In other words, the MAI will ensure that member countries provide a "safe haven" for the world's largest companies.

• The MAI could prevent governments from restricting the operations of their own corporations in countries where there is a widespread violation of human rights or environmental standards.

If the MAI is approved by Parliament, it will be "locked-in" for 20 years. In other words, even with a change of government we would be prevented from changing the legislation for two decades.

Here's what you can do:

• Speak to your elected representatives: federal, provincial and local. Find out what they know about the MAI and what they are going to do about it.

• Involve your community and workplace. Let them know what is at stake.

• Write a letter of concern to your local newspaper.

• Join the campaign.

Call 1-800-387-7177

904-251 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5J7

•	The MAI would allow transnational corporations the status of nation states with certain political rights.	•	The MAI would prevent a country from imposing performance requirements on foreign companies, and confers rights and privileges to these companies without corresponding responsibilities and obligations to society, communities or the common good.
•	The MAI would prevent our public enter- prises from acting in any way other than in accordance with commercial considerations. Crown corporations will no longer be able to favour domestic producers over foreign companies when it comes to purchasing or selling goods and services or applying regulations to the marketplace.	•	The MAI could give foreign corporations the tools to force governments to "roll back" legislation on consumer protection, foreign ownership, social programs and regional development.
•	The MAI could give foreign companies the tools to force governments to impose "sunset" provisions on laws that conflict with the new investment regime--with three exceptions: national security, public order and international peace and security.	•	The MAI would prevent our government from regaining public control over a sector of the economy that had been previously privatized. In other words, the MAI will ensure that member countries provide a "safe haven" for the world's largest companies.
•	The MAI could prevent governments from restricting the operations of their own corporations in countries where there is a widespread violation of human rights or environmental standards.