John Harding’s Oct. 8 editorial highlighted his non-agreement with TPP fears.
I do not view these public concerns as fear-mongering: Manufacturing sectors will be under siege; and Decisions in other countries will affect our Internet accesses.
The most dangerous aspect is inclusion of Investor-State Dispute Resolutions provisions.
This would continue NAFTAs spawn where corporations can — and have been with relish — sue countries/provinces/cities, etc. if they have been denied access to making a profit from natural resources, environmentally sensitive areas, labour pools, social policies and others. They can even sue for potential profits.
Canada has the dubious distinction of being the second-most-sued country in the world. A major petroleum corporation is suing a South American country for more than $1 billion because they have been denied access to areas.
Canada has paid out $100 million to date to U.S. corporations and others are lined up to go after us.
That NAFTA provision holds our sovereignty to ransom. Foreign corporations can sue us, under NAFTA, over our public policies that limit access.
Can you imagine what will be unleashed on Canada if our government signs over our rights to multiple Asian countries, particularly aggressive China?
I shudder. Harding should too.
Pat PowellParksville
