OPINION — except your country if you don’t take action. Joan Scott, Grandview, Man.
TRADE WISDOM To the Editor: We really have to question the wisdom of our current relations with China, especially the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement. Stephen Harper and the Chinese president signed off in Vladivostok Sept. 8, with no press release. It has been tabled quietly in Parliament and can come into effect any time after 21 sitting days. No debate in public, Parliament or with other levels of government. Governments can sign treaties with-
out parliamentary approval, but it is unusual for something of this magnitude to not have debate. Remember the big NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) debates? The House has been debating the Canada-Panama trade deal — trade volume $213 million — since last spring and the Canada-Jordan trade deal — trade volume $90 million — for six days. The Canada-China deal — trade volume $64 billion — no debate whatever. Why no debate? What is in this investment deal? It sets out a series of obligations for Canada, new rights for Chinese stateowned enterprises and fails to deliver on reciprocity for Canadian companies operating in China. We are bound to the terms for the next 15 years minimum. A future government that wants out has to give one year’s notice, and even when cancelled, any existing Chinese opera-
THE WESTERN PRODUCER | WWW.PRODUCER.COM | NOVEMBER 15, 2012
tions in Canada are guaranteed another 15 years of benefits. Canada must promote and encourage Chinese investment in Canada. Chinese government controlled companies operating in Canada must be treated exactly the same as Canadian companies. Now the really nasty parts. The deal allows Chinese companies to sue Canada over decisions that can reduce or diminish their expectations of profit. China can claim damages against Canada for decisions at the municipal, provincial or federal level — even decisions of our courts. Belgium is dealing with a $3 billion claim with China under a similar treaty regarding a failed bank. Chinese investors need only a minority position in a Canadian company to be covered. Claims go to arbitration behind closed doors and are secret.
No other level of government is allowed to intervene or attend. We are essentially delegating a judicial component of Canadian sovereignty to international arbitrators. The arbitrators are not subject to review in any court. The arbitrators are not judges, often being corporate lawyers, moonlighting academics or members of corporate boards. They can awards billions of dollars of public funds to Chinese government corporations for our government’s enacting legislation that protects our energy security, environment, jobs or public health. The mere threat of a lawsuit can be used in the early part of a dispute to get a government to change or deter certain decisions. This treaty requires that if, in the future, Canada wants to conserve its natural resources — all, including water — we are only allowed to reduce Chinese access to the extent that we
limit our own use. Australia, South Africa and India have wisely refused this type of investment treaty…. Mike Bray, Indian Head, Sask.
“You told me to use my initiative if I wanted money so I sold a cow.”
MENTORSHIP | ROLE MODELS
Here come the zoomers SPIRITUAL VIGNETTES
JOYCE SASSE
A
re you a zoomer? You could be called that if you are older than 45, according to the Canadian Association of Retired People. CARP’s mandate is to advocate a new vision for aging in Canada. As one with a toenail in the baby boom generation and a pensioner for a few years now, I like the attitude that goes with the organization and the title. Zoomers have a great deal to offer. At a stage when the techno-society thinks of us as fuddy-duddies who are a drain on society, zoomers are doing their own advocacy in health, government legislation, income benefits and local outreach. They have been face to face with bullying, elder abuse, those who say, “why bother? I can’t make her 28 again,” and their own fear when visiting a geriatric home that “this can’t possibly be my own old age.” They believe life has more to offer. Moses Znaimer, Canadian broadcaster and media pioneer, is president of CARP, and his leadership has infected zoomers with refreshing vitality. Since 2000, the annual Idea City Conferences invite presenters to speak for 17 minutes on subjects of special interest to them. The Zoomer-Life Conference talks about aging, longevity and life extension. Zoomer magazine keeps readers abreast of happenings “in area of health, finance, travel, science, longevity, fashion, beauty, style, and life in general.” My question to colleagues is how many zoomers are you aware of in your church? Is there opportunity for each to nurture the other, to advocate on behalf of the voiceless, to mentor newer generations and be role models to each other? Our God-given potential is like a treasure we might fail to recognize.
Joyce Sasse writes for the Canadian Rural Church Network at www.canadian ruralchurch.net.
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