Topic
As time ticks down, FIPA expert Gus Van Harten and office of the premier exchange emails.
Expert says treaty gives Chinese corporations powers to override Canadians' self-determination.
Toronto-based authority urges PM to halt ratification, laying out numerous 'deep' concerns.
Further, a government may face intense pressure not to exercise its right to regulate, due to the power of foreign investors to threaten lawsuits for hundreds of millions or billions of dollars. Even if the government thought it had a strong defence in a case, it would run the risk of being ordered to pay massive compensation to an investor. Unlike at the World Trade Organization, the compensation order tracks back to the government's original decision, creating uncertain but potentially catastrophic fiscal risk for governments. Although governments maintain the right to regulate, subject to the arbitrators' authority, their bargaining power can be undermined significantly in closed-door discussions, especially in relation to expensive projects.
Finally, Chinese investors, by their access to arbitration tribunals outside of the Canadian legal system, may obtain a competitive advantage over Canadian investors who are limited to Canadian courts. This favouring of foreign investors over domestic companies is one of the reasons that the Australian Productivity Commission and the Australian government decided against including these arbitration mechanisms in future treaties, let alone in a treaty where Australia occupied the capital-importing position and appeared especially vulnerable to lawsuits.
Government claim #10:
At the same time, Chinese investment in Canada will continue to be subject to the Investment Canada Act for both the net benefit test for acquisitions above the applicable threshold and for national security concerns with respect to any investment. Decisions by Canada under the Investment Canada Act are excluded from challenge under the provisions of the FIPA.
Reply:
This is true; indeed, if the treaty comes into effect, the primary protection for Canadians from the treaty's risks and constraints will be the federal government's power to limit Chinese investment under the Investment Canada Act. That said, there are weak points that could potentially be exploited by Chinese firms to buy assets in Canada outside of the framework of the act. Also, on this point, Canada excluded only the Investment Canada Act from the treaty, whereas China excluded unspecified "Laws, Regulations and Rules relating to the regulation of foreign investment" (see Annex D.34 of the treaty) that allow China to block Canadian investments. As a result, in Canada -- but not in China -- a sub-national (e.g. provincial) government could not rely on this clause to block takeovers by foreign investors, if the federal government approved the takeover. This is another example of how the treaty is lopsided in China's favour.
Government claim #11:
We've been clear that Canada wants to continue to expand its relationship with China, but we want to see it expand in a way that produces clear benefits for both sides. By ensuring greater protection against discriminatory and arbitrary practices, and enhancing predictability of a market's policy framework, this FIPA will allow Canadians to invest in China with greater confidence.
Reply:
What are the benefits for Canada? The treaty does not lower tariffs for Canadian exports to China's market. It does not open China's economy to investment by Canadian companies, beyond what governments in China already allow. It does not level the playing field for Canadian companies. On the contrary, the treaty allows China to continue to discriminate in favour of its own companies in China, while locking in the relatively even playing field in Canada.
On investor protection, the treaty favours China because Chinese investment in Canada is more extensive than Canadian investment in China and because Canada appears more vulnerable to being sued in arbitration proceedings. Thus, Chinese companies -- and presumably the Chinese government -- will have more bargaining power over governments in Canada and, in turn, an apparent competitive advantage over Canadian companies in their own country. It is dubious to claim that the treaty's arbitration mechanism, which has never been invoked by a foreign investor in a known case against China, will offer meaningful protections or enhance predictability for Canadian companies in China.
A final note
Why would the federal government agree to such a lopsided deal? One reason could be that this is the price demanded by the Chinese government in return for allowing large flows of Chinese investment into Canada. Whatever the reason, the federal government should acknowledge that the treaty is lopsided and explain how it will nevertheless benefit Canada. This would allow public debate to focus appropriately on the terms that will accompany Chinese ownership of assets in Canada, the extent to which those terms may shift value-added benefits of resource extraction and other economic activity in Canada to China, and the government's strategy for avoiding this outcome in spite of the constraints imposed by the treaty.
These questions are important because the treaty will undermine the bargaining power of Canadian governments and the competitiveness of Canadian companies in relation to Chinese state-owned companies for at least 31 years. Once the treaty comes into effect, no future Canadian Parliament or court will be able to change any of its terms without China's consent.
Faced with public concern about the treaty, the government has released misleading information about the treaty and has pointed fingers at critics. For example, I have been called by the government or other proponents of the treaty: alarmist, protectionist, totally wrong, fear-mongering, and xenophobic. This avoidance of the substantive issues at stake heightens my own concern that governments in Canada have not considered carefully the pitfalls and risks of this imbalanced deal for Canadian voters, taxpayers, businesses, and workers. The treaty should not be ratified, at least until after a thorough, independent, and public review of the government's claims. ![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
Taking apart Tories' Party Line on China-Canada Treaty: Page 2 of 2
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Hakuin
28 weeks ago
What happens if China commits an act of war against Canada?
I kind of already thought they had with the Ghostnet spying and all that. Are we allowed to fight back or does FIPA forbid that too?
Fiat lux
28 weeks ago
Harper is now in India to
Harper is now in India to sign a similar treaty and to negotiate the coming, yet another "free trade" racket.
If Diana Francis is against this FIPA treaty , there is indeed no benefit for Canada in it.
Bringing jobs to Canada ? What kind of jobs ? Driving and operating mining equipment in one of 500 mines across the North, dreamed of by Harper, selling the country to our "trading partners".
When will these blundering idiots admit that the sale of resources is not and income, or an economic benefit?
They call themselves "businessmen", and not know this simple fact? What happens when the resources run out, as thy always do ?
And what about this constant yakking about Canadian businesses "investing" in a communist country, planning to rule the world ? Are they insane or do they consider the public insane to back up their insane actions ? To hell with those "investors" and anybody who excuses, or supports them. All they do is stripping and impoverishing this country and people.
I've been an incorporated business and property owner in BC for well over 50 years, but am getting sick of listening of this incessant yammering about "investors" especially abroad. If investors are willing to take the risks of dealing with a criminal element , that's their problem and it is not our duty to protect them by giving up our rights.
Ed Deak.
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2012/11/02/canada-china-trade-deal-is-too-one-sided/
_____________________________________________
Frank
28 weeks ago
Thanks for the article!
Unfortunately there are people out there who think the selling of raw resources is what pays for healthcare and education. Logic not being their strong suit.
Its why the Right is not afraid of democracy, they know most people can't assess these idiotic policies for themselves and instead simply trust their leaders who tell them they're writing a hockey book and drink coffee at Tim Horton's.
Ricky
28 weeks ago
Recipe for Corruption
What I find interesting is that, because the sheer number of Chinese foreign direct investments in Canada will no doubt be greater than Canadian into China, if a claim is made by a company, statistically it is far more likely to be a Chinese company against Canada than the other way around.
So, with these arbitrators working for a profit on a case by case basis, is there not incentive to develop a bias in favour of Chinese investors? After all, any fool could see that the business, as it were, would be coming from Chinese initiations of the arbitration process, just based on the sheer imbalance in volumes of investment. Encouraging Chinese claims through biased decisions would likely generate far more arbitration fees than encouraging Canadian claims, especially if such a bias were perceived by the favoured investor group, which would certainly fel emodened, then, to make even more claims, knowing the process was tilted in their favour.
What mechanism exists to punish biased arbitrators working the system for fees?
Mattieblanchard...
28 weeks ago
Tory MPs dodging the issue
You don't need to go to Alberta to get a Conservative MP's spiel about the 'great' Harper-China deal. See John Weston's article in the Coast Reporter (serving the Sunshine Coast, part of Weston's 'Sea to Sky' riding) for more of the same nonsense. And meanwhile Weston is taking up air and time pushing for his 'national health day' -- because if we all go out and ride bikes like HE does, then we won't need that darned, costly healthcare system at all!
exiledgoblin
28 weeks ago
thanks for the very informative article
I have been writing to various MPs for weeks in opposition to FIPA and getting back the same kind of drivel critiqued in this article. You were much too kind in calling this stuff "misleading". The conservative government's spin doctors have been working overtime and lying through their teeth. Your point by point dissection is a great public service. Thank you!
Hakuin
28 weeks ago
The longstanding arrogance of Establishment Canada
, based on simple racism of course, continues to blind many to the obvious: China is better at corruption than we are. The've been doing it far longer, much , much bigger and infinitely more skilfully. If we really do sit down at the same card table of unlimited commerce, guess who the rube that gets shaken down till his teeth rattle is going to be?
Birch
28 weeks ago
You got a reply?
Perhaps you were politer than I was.
None of the Tory members on the committee has replied to my letter. I simply concluded that the fix was in. Of course, I'm not in a Tory riding, and therefore don't count.
Birch
28 weeks ago
You got a reply?
You must have been more polite than I was. Or, perhaps, given that I'm not from a Tory riding, I don't count.
None of the Tory MP's from the committee in question responded to my letter.
Skywalker
28 weeks ago
Neither did I Birch.
Except that I got a computerized response from three that essentially did said they would only respond if I was in their constituency. Well My MP is not a problem but these Tory puppets who will vote on issues that effect my constituency and region don't seem to want to be accountable to those effected by their votes.
I'm with exiledgoblin. This article is excellent and I would go one step further. It should be sent to all Tory MP's in hard copy with a covering letter from the sender. I hope the MacKay's have done that with their MP.
freebear
28 weeks ago
A politician's statements are misleading...
Really!
No surprise there eh!
Van Isle
28 weeks ago
There's a fella in Courtenay
There's a fella in Courtenay who had a law practice in Shanghai for 14 years. He has a Chinese Law Degree. He speaks Chinese. His law practise in Courtenay is on the corner of England Ave. and 6th St. If one wants to find out how the Chinese Government and legal system works, just go and have a half hour chat and I guarantee he'll make your hair curl on how the "system' over there really works. They have a gulag system that makes Stalin's looked like a bunch of slackers. There is no seperation between the judical system and Government. The judges are told on how to rule by their political masters. A foreigner will never ever win in a Chinese court of law. Needless to say the whole system is absolutly corrupt. Oh, by the way, this fellas name is Clive Ainsley. Clive in the past has talked to various Canadian Government people and they simply ignore his recommendations on how to deal with the Chinese Government.
Hakuin
28 weeks ago
this should be good:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/9654300/Chinas-economic-destiny-in-doubt-after-leadership-shock.html
lynn
28 weeks ago
".....But it cannot survive treason from within....."
The in-depth analysis is much appreciated.
Between the secretive ability of the Chinese government to influence Canadian policy, and the same secretiveness to thus allow the Chairman's Gang to escape accountability for alllowing China to do so ( both constituting a direct attack on our sovereignty) ...this, along with hired gun arbitrators whose loyalty is not to the laws of our land but to the corporate outlaws both here and in China... well, it's quite evident that the enemy are indeed within the gates....of The Hill.
oldcrank
28 weeks ago
What happened with the Canadian negotiating team?
It is pretty clear that this deal is a flop. You have to ask why though.
Did Harper intend that it be a flop? Is he intent on selling out Canada? If the deal were with the US, the answer would be yes. This deal is however with the much hated Communists!! Remember when, in the early days, Harper could not bring himself to even utter the word China. Now he is rolling over for these guys.
An old aphorism comes to mind - Don't attribute to malice what can be explained by ignorance or stupidity.
Well, Harper has the latter in spades. The clod Harper may be smart, in an academic sense on some topics, but he is totally ignorant on many others. Particularly topics which do not centre around electing right wing yahoos.
This deal proves that stupid matters. Electing the stupid party 3 times gives Canadian bragging rights on who elected a stupid party most often - the US only elected Bush twice.
Of course, they may recover and tie on Nov 6 if they elect Romney.
dunngy59
28 weeks ago
Are you people who voted for
Are you people who voted for Harper happy,how much money are you investing in China?
Van Isle
28 weeks ago
Does anyone else know that
Does anyone else know that the Chinese military swears allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party and not to the Chinese Government nor to it's people?
Van Isle
28 weeks ago
Does anyone else know that
Does anyone else know that the Chinese Gulag system is heavy into selling body parts (of course from their inmates), internationally?
lynn
28 weeks ago
Hakuin
Very interesting link on China....thanks.
Bill_Horne
28 weeks ago
What happened to CBC covereage of this story?
Last week there were articles on CBC's online news sites, incl "5 things" to know abt the deal. Since Thursday I've seen little or nothing. Eerie.
Hakuin
28 weeks ago
lots out there
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/11/04/164189598/can-chinas-legal-system-change
frank2
28 weeks ago
Old crank is right. Harper is
Old crank is right. Harper is ignorant and stupid. I disagree that Harper may be right on any "academic" issues. But he sure knows how to manipulate politics...
ReeferMadness
28 weeks ago
Harper's a lotta things
but I don't think stupid is one of them. More likely, he is so ideologically bent on undermining social ideals that he'd rather give the country to the Chinese.
Dan Grant
28 weeks ago
Repost from Chris Hedges
Repost from Chris Hedges (Pulitzer Prize winner and former war correspondent for the New York Times):
Harper is a poster child for corporate malfeasance and corporate power, just sort of dismantling everything that’s good about Canada. So he’s the kind of species that rises to political power and is utterly subservient to corporate interests at the expense of the citizenry.
Yeah, he’s a pretty venal figure.
http://www.straight.com/article-732826/vancouver/chris-hedges-harper-venal-us-politics-totally-rigged
……………………………………………………
Dan Grant
28 weeks ago
“Stephen Harper politics are
“Stephen Harper politics are putting the greatest country on earth in danger. I despise the politics of targeting demographics to manipulate elections – our seniors, immigrants, the disenfranchised young.
We have to keep standing up to the bully until we have no strength left.”
http://www.ipolitics.ca/2012/10/24/michael-harris-will-democracy-in-canada-benefit-from-borys-wrzesnewskyjs-persistence/
……………………………………………………
aDriftwood
28 weeks ago
Speaking from the heart
Yes, they may be able to find less controversial workers if they are able to mine the almost unlimited supply of unquestioning labour from China But where does that leave us - the people who live in BC and have depended on forestry and mining jobs for generations to put the food on the tabLe? It leaves us out in the cold, no jobs, no future and cold comfort from our Liberal government which holds out its hands to foreign investment. Campbell did it, Mulroney did it, and Christie Clarke is just achin to do it too.
Given that we in BC are not worldly wise. Given that we have tended to follow our medias who have pulled the sheet right over our eyes.
Would you, if you live in China under the iron rule, really give a rat's arse about the living conditions in BC? Not a chance.
So I offer you; while I am not a member of any party and have no chance of gaining even one dollar, the idea that British Columbia is for British Columbians, the people who live here and have suffered various provincial and federal governments which have not benefited them even on penny as a return for their slave labour investment in government, The right to call an election on the issues which confront us, which are almost invariably the issues of foreign bank and corporate control over our resources and our labour. See yourself as a politician: you will soon see that to maintain your position as a well paid member of the party line you must negate your idealism and indeed most of the camaraderie to the people who got you elected.
Was listening to the CBC this morning as they were interviewing the MLA from my riding. Know what I though? "What an absolute sleazebag who will do and say anything to get re-elected. Shiny, smooth, obvious to older viewers and an absolute prick.
I know, I know that mainstream media will go out of their way to make look like an absolute idiot. But what has mainstream media done for you lately? Aside from reducing your life in the interest of Globalism. Just asking How is it that the Conservative government won several close ridings by electoral fraud and will never have to REALLY answer for it? Shit, you want to be governed by illegitimate governments who will do anything to be in power, why not vote for Hells Angels. It is exactly the same thing. These c*nts who control BC without our permission are exactly like an Angel gang who will love you until you disagree, and then murder you. Even to speak of them in any but a glorious light invites beating and death. So much for Angels.
c
Cool Hand
28 weeks ago
Fiat Lux
But Ed, why would you complain about that when the federal NDP, which you apparently support, also supports a same free trade deal with India? The same "free trade racket", so to speak.
I've posted it it before and I will again:
The federal NDP now is urging Canada to put further emphasis on the WTO's global trade talks "which the Harper government has neglected".
And the federal NDP now wants to accelerate and prioritize free-trade talks with:
1. India;
2. Brazil;
3. South Africa;
Yes. The federal NDP wants to get involved in the same "free trade racket" with the WTO, India, Brazil, and South Africa that you are now complaining about.
I'm just curious how you now "square" this "circle"?!
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ndp-working-towards-balance-as-it-crafts-new-foreign-policy/article4555764/?cmpid=rss1
Cool Hand
28 weeks ago
Frank
Come again???!!!
Alberta sells the most "raw resources" in Canada and has:
1. No medicare premiums (unlike BC)
2. No 7% PST (unlike BC)
3. The highest paid work force in Canada
5. The highest credit rating in Canada
6. The highest level of per capita infrastructure spending in Canada
7. The lowest unemployment rate in Canada
I can go on and on...
But let's look at BC...
With natural gas land grants/sales and royalties... BC could afford to give 300,000 public sector employees a $4,000 signing bonus, plus annual pay increases, plus pay down the provincial debt, plus pay for additional infrastructure projects... etc. back circa 2007 when ng prices were at a much higher level. Don't worry, they will rebound with lng.
Without AB or BC selling off "raw resources" those public benefits would have never been.
So what planet do you live on? Pluto? Cause your mind think is wayyyyyyyy out in outer space compared to the facts and reality. Really.
Fiat lux
28 weeks ago
Cool,... all political
Cool,... all political parties have and are advised by the same miseducated economists, with the difference that some are carrying boxes of band-aids to cover compound fractures.
Just because the, or some leaders of the NDP may be supporting the free trade rackets, although Mulcair apparently wants to get rid of the Chapter 11 garbage, it doesn't mean that I have to should support it, or them.
I've been fighting against the free trade rackets since 1987, have never seen any benefits, only damage from them, and will oppose anybody supports them or wants more. This includes the NDP , even if I support them on some points and policies.
Never have been a "yes" man to anybody, any leader, or ideology and too old to become one.
To the best of my recollection this is what democracy is supposed to about and not some misadvised "loyalty" to anybody, or anything.
Ed Deak.
Frank
28 weeks ago
Luke
Is that what you do in your personal life? Sell everything you own and then live in hotels or just rent the rest of your life? Is that the path to untold riches according to the gospel of Cool Hand?
If selling the ground beneath your feet brought prosperity, Africa would be rich and Europe would be poor.
China would sell resources instead of importing them.
Or I guess you think the Chinese are dumb?
Cause we here in Canada have been sellign a lot of resources over the past few decades as our manufacturing sector declined. So how come our median wages didn't improve?
Advice, look at reality, then figure out why your ideology and reality don't meet.
Frank
28 weeks ago
Luke
So did you not vote for the Liberals when they opposed free trade? Did you not vote for them when they said they would tear it up?
Or perhaps you did vote for them and were disappointed when they lied?
Frank
28 weeks ago
Jeffrey Simpson quoting Alison Redford
"Thursday’s budget projected a staggering $15.9-billion in non-renewable resource revenues, most of which will be spent. All Premier Alison Redford would say is that she plans a “conversation” with Albertans about reducing reliance on non-renewable revenue."
Now why would Ms Redford say that?
Could it be because selling your resources and claiming you're rich is like selling your house and claiming you're rich?
and another quote from Mr Simpson :
"A blue-ribbon panel (made up of Albertans and non-Albertans) charged with examining Alberta’s future recommended an end to using resource revenues in this way. It urged putting the revenues into the Heritage Fund and raising taxes to finance more of today’s spending. An earlier report for the Canada West Foundation had suggested putting a third of resource revenues into the fund.
Predictably, these save-for-tomorrow ideas were rejected by previous Alberta governments, as they were again Thursday."
Hmm.
Frank
28 weeks ago
NDP and trade
NDP MP Robert Chisholm :
“We’re saying trade, done right, is good That we can move forward and deal with other countries, but we need to walk on this planet with some integrity as a country. There are very serious problems in engaging with countries like this. We have a moral obligation to do things in a way that will protect workers, that will take into consideration the environment and human rights.”
Cool Hand
28 weeks ago
Frank
Sorry bud, not much resource underneath the feet of Africans and the Europeans own the intellectual property. To keep it simple.
As for the Chinese (esp. CNOOC), American companies are now bailing on the Alberta oil sands such as Murphy Oil, Marathon Oil and ConocoPhillips to the tune of $17 billion due to various complex factors.
And those are quality assets compared to Nexen's oil sands asset, which is Long Lake. A complete "dog" that is having HUGE technical problems and production problems that will never allow it to break-even financially IMHO.
And that's Nexen's main asset in Canada. Do I think the Chinese are dumb? Let me put it this way... too much cash in their wallet, desperate for long term strategic asset, and Nexen is a dog.
I've seen that movie before. Why don't you advocate that all NDP'ers in Canada buy Nexen? Put your wallets where your mouths are. Why not? I will guarantee you that you will bankrupt all of these same NDP'ers at the end of the day and the NDP itself.
In business, greed and stupidity always leads to financial ruin at the end of the day. Be it Chinese, Americans, Africans, Europeans, or Canadians.
Frank
28 weeks ago
Luke
Africa has no resources?
Do you mean except for "oil, diamonds, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver"?
And like Canada, they relied on foreign investment to get those resources out of the ground.
And yet, they're still poor. So why do you want us to copy Africa?
You mention Europe, and you admitted Europe's wealth is not built on resource extraction. So why not advocate we be more like Europe and less like Africa?
As for NDP'ers buying Nexen, I don't know what conversation you're having in your head but its not the one I'm involved in. I never even mentioned Nexen.
Frank
28 weeks ago
Appropos Liberals and developers
Since you mentioned before you're a devleoper and a Paul Martin Liberal I guess you aren't surprised that Paul Martin Liberals are being exposed as corrupt in their dealings with developers in la belle province?
By the way, no answer to my earlier query on whether you were conflicted when the Liberals were both for and against free trade?
Or did you support them either way?
needleroozer
28 weeks ago
Brian Mulroney, Jean Cretien,
Brian Mulroney, Jean Cretien, Paul Martin and now Chairman Harper. find out who the Power and the brains are or we're behind these guys. check out Laila Yuile's blog and let's stop calling them free trade agreements and call them what they really are, corporate rights agreements.
Cool Hand
28 weeks ago
Frank
Haha. Do you even understand how capital investment works? African governments are notoriously corrupt, no regulation scheme, unstable taxation regime, tribal warfare, infrastructure bombings, pipeline bombings... etc., etc. and you suggest western or Chinese capital, for that matter, should invest there?
Rhodesia was once a wealthy country, Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe has now turned the country into a basket case. If you are so hot on African resources, invest your own funds there. And thereafter, I will watch you walk into your local food bank.
Frank
28 weeks ago
Luke
Your silly meanderings aside, in fact, companies like DeBeers, made their fortunes there.
Western and Chinese capital did and are investing there.
Some westerners liked Africa so much they took over all of it except Ethiopia. You may have read about it, it was in all the papers.
So to sum up. I say Canada will not provide for its citizens by selling our resources just as a family is not better off simply by selling its house. I offer Africa as an example.
You claim Africa had no resources.
I correct you, it did, and to some extent, still does.
You then claim I should go invest in Africa.
I then marvel at your ability to get along in life without being able to follow a discussion.
Fact is, Canada will not get rich selling its non-renewable resources just as Africa did not get rich doing so.
If that was the path to prosperity Europe would be following Africa's current path and selling everything off including growing rights on the land.
Yet they don't. Europe seems to believe selling Bavaria to the Chinese for farming isn't the best idea in the world.
You disagree and think Canada should sell every resource we have so we can get rid of sales taxes.
You seem to give no thought to tomorrow.
Cool Hand
28 weeks ago
Frank
You mention DeBeers. That's South Africa. Funny enough, both Rhodesia and South Africa functioned under European-type administrations until Rhodesia went Zimbabwe/Mugabe. The only 2 African countries that really ever have.
South Africa still has similar policies post-Apartheid. You also forgot to mention SASOL - South African State Oil - which has been a world leader in coal to gasoline conversion as well as natural gas to diesel conversion since the 1950's.
And SASOL currently has a $2 billion investment (50% interest) in Talisman's NE BC's Montney basin, in which they are currently undertaking front-end engineering for a $10 billion natural gas to diesel facility. Big stuff.
http://www.sasol.com/sasol_internet/frontend/navigation.jsp?pnav=country%20profile&countryId=2000004&navid=2&cnav=canada&rootid=2
South Africa is prolly the only place that investment would make sense albeit South African conglomerates are now focusing upon more stable gobal political areas to diversify their risk.
But the rest of Africa is still a basket case. And you can take that to the bank.
Frank
28 weeks ago
Luke
Yes, I know Africa isn't doing well. That's my point. Thanks for making it again for me.
And the reason is they followed the path of allowing "foreign investment" to rape their resources.
You know the old adage about repeating something and hoping for different results?
That's what you're doing when you claim Canada will profit from its resources being extracted by foreign companies and foreign workers to serve foreign societies.
It needs to be said again, our resources are non-renewable. Extraction of non-renewable resources will not support our economy long-term.
And you can take that to the bank.
freebear
28 weeks ago
Following the money
"Remember when, in the early days, Harper could not bring himself to even utter the word China. Now he is rolling over for these guys."
The continuous growth followers need the Chineses money to keep the inevitable economic collapse away a little bit longer; while the 1% build their bunkers for the coming storm!
Fiat lux
28 weeks ago
Modern economics are working
Modern economics are working at the intellectual level of the now already seen idiots who spin their wheels on snow and ice, expecting to go somewhere the faster they spin.
Our friend failed to bring up the time honoured question of : "Do you want to go back to stone axes and the caves?"
It is hard to comprehend by the faithful, especially by so called "economists", that the question and issue is not whether we should mine coal, but for what purpose, how much, where and what are the consequences of the difference between "development" or "destruction" ? Even if they're covered up with imaginary monetary figures.
Ed Deak.
aorangi
28 weeks ago
FIPA
Following the signing of the Canada/US Free Trade Agreement in 1987,the chief US trade negotiator Clayton Yeutter said, "We've signed a stunning new trade pact with Canada. The Canadians don't know what they've signed. In twenty years they'll be sucked into the US economy".
Well, his timing was a bit off but as the Americans kept generating new domestic laws to counter any objection we've had to their intransigence, we've lost in arbitration again and again and every time we lose there goes a bit of our autonomy.
FIPA will much worse and it's pretty clear that the stakes are huge: Our very sovereignty in peril. Something drastic has to be done but anything I can think of is illegal unless there's a loophole to the Govenor General somehow?
Fiat lux
28 weeks ago
Typical
Typical conservative/communist logic. While our corporate mafia is taking trillions in investments and millions of jobs to China, destroying our environment and people in the process, the militaries of both sides are planning a global nuclear war against each other.
Brilliant !!!!!!!
Ed Deak.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/russia-counters-the-us-missile-shield-from-the-seas/5310516
bhglennie
27 weeks ago
why don't we join OPEC?
If we join OPEC then we could start collecting the billions of $'s that other OPEC nations get from the oil corporations.
Quit subsidizing the Tar Sands. use the moneys to fix the healthcare system, improve the education system ( train our own kids for Canadian jobs), generally make Canada a better place. Sounds nice to me.
Hakuin
27 weeks ago
Let's see how they behave here
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/11/2012/help-save-the-cultural-heritage-of-afghanistan
Hakuin
27 weeks ago
No one smart will be closing any China deals
until we see who they execute this time:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/hu-talks-tough-on-corruption-as-china-opens-transition-congress/article4076505.ece?homepage=true
Jump the gun and it means paying the same bribe to a new face.
Hakuin
27 weeks ago
pass it on
http://fipafacts.ca/post/35279488130/fipa-fact-1
Hakuin
27 weeks ago
and now for something completely different
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NxxEo6lEC_U
DrailTheCircus
27 weeks ago
If we allow this type of governmental behavior
This speaks volumes about how the Conservative machine under Harper is getting away from what good governance is all about. Here we have a government that was elected with only 37% of the popular vote and did it with less than stellar ways:ie/ robo-calls and misleading election funding. We need to stop this because it is setting a VERY poor precedent for the way we are allowing our politicians to govern! The government works for us, not the other way around!
Hakuin
27 weeks ago
who shall we add to this list?
Canada
Louis Riel, executed for leading the Métis in the North-West Rebellion against Canada's expansion into the west.
Kanao Inouye, Kamloops-born sergeant in the Imperial Japanese army in World War II, executed for killing eight Canadian prisoners of war captured at the Battle of Hong Kong.
Paul Forseth
27 weeks ago
It is about balance.
The author is unreasonably sour and pessimistic. The long-term international trend, is a gradual shift in world economic power towards China. Canada has to be in the game through engagement at all levels. The NDP always want the most socialist perfect trade deal that discriminates in favour of Canada...such imaginary deals never exist. The NDP have voted against every trade deal. World trade is an incremental game.