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CHIMO

(9,223 posts)
Sat Sep 29, 2012, 07:42 PM Sep 2012

Canada-China investment deal allows for confidential lawsuits against Canada

The Harper government is very keen on Chinese investment. On this there is little doubt, now that the Canada-China investment deal has been released.

The deal will tie the hands of Canadian governments, especially in the resource sector, once Chinese firms buy Canadian assets. It allows Chinese companies to sue Canada outside of Canadian courts. Remarkably, the lawsuits can proceed behind closed doors. This shift to secrecy reverses a long-standing policy of the Canadian government.

Under the deal, Chinese firms can sue in special tribunals to protect themselves from Canadian government decisions. Canadian companies can do the same against China. The technical name for this is “investor-state arbitration.” In Canada, it has been in operation since NAFTA.

In turn, any decision by any state entity in Canada — from federal or provincial legislation to a Supreme Court of Canada decision — can be challenged by a Chinese investor. The arbitrators, if they conclude that the decision violates flexible standards of investor protection, can issue orders and award damages against a country.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1264290--canada-china-investment-deal-allows-for-confidential-lawsuits-against-canada

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Canada-China investment deal allows for confidential lawsuits against Canada (Original Post) CHIMO Sep 2012 OP
This got very little press. Joe Shlabotnik Sep 2012 #1
Harper is so desperate laundry_queen Oct 2012 #2
To channel some L.B. Pearson... Joe Shlabotnik Oct 2012 #3

Joe Shlabotnik

(5,604 posts)
1. This got very little press.
Sun Sep 30, 2012, 12:31 AM
Sep 2012

Sounds like a trial run for the subservient position that Canada will be in when the Trans-Pacific Partnership is in the books.

laundry_queen

(8,646 posts)
2. Harper is so desperate
Wed Oct 3, 2012, 12:55 AM
Oct 2012

to get his cushy little appointment after he's ousted that he'll give up our sovereignty to get it. After studying international business this term and seeing the stories about Huawei Technologies - well,

Joe Shlabotnik

(5,604 posts)
3. To channel some L.B. Pearson...
Thu Oct 4, 2012, 01:17 AM
Oct 2012

"Premier Jiabao, unlike your people, Canada's trade does not need liberating..."

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