Dear Editor:

«While T would like to con:
gratulate: local Reform -MP
Ted White for participating in
‘the recent - parliamentary

“debate on! “the | Multilateral
Agreement | on |-Investment
(MAI), would‘ like: to take
Issue. with: a) comment
expressed during - the. dia-
dogues

& Mr. White, during : the

“debate; ‘attempted. to gloss.

over the legitimate concern of

_many Canadians that the MAI?

Significantly impairs national
sovereignty © by “the
rs Liberal governn ;
tatorial, . I ‘¢annot: see: che
Prime Minister § giving up even
one iota of his power ta any-
~ body else.”
“Whether ‘an
humour or'a: partisan jab (as
appropriate: as this’ one "may
be), this: comment 0
‘strates a clear deficier
= White’s understanding of. the
“MAL The MAL includes 1 many
"provi :

mmigration:
rae ae the ‘face of.

Iininigration listened to. 12
submissions*on: cach “of ‘nwo
sin Vancouver. On.

attempt’ Par

“light during the parliamentary
‘debate, - which significantly
jimpair: the ability of govern. ~
ment to actin a democratic
manner,’

The MAI ‘essentially, cur--
tails or prohibits many forms
of. government support . to
domestic industry.in the pub-
lic. interest (i.e. non-commer-
cial interest) while : the | roll-
back and standstill clauses pre-
vent’ future non-competitive »
commercial: legislation, and’
threaten the ‘status of current
legislation.

'— Measures to punish corpo-

rations who. violate‘ environ-,.
* mental " standards or human -

rights laws in; other countries
would --be , prohibited ' under
the = MAL, i° meaning“ that.
actions: similar to the: invest: *
ment embargo --on

informiation’he ‘came up with
was, “Oh, in the ustral way.”

: The one ‘man :who: knov
more about immigration than
‘anybody:it

time. but was’), rejected. !
* Campbell devoted: much
“.othis tite to ‘immigration mat:

should be’ given sa

couple | of:
vored, vihinie

f'; : ga tae!

Hlowed

-performance

“South.
Africa during apartheid. era”
‘ would be prohibited. 6 -<:
So The MAL also grants rights :
to corporations to. suc govern“
. ments, for uncompetitive prac-
Y tices, | prevents even modest,

“of Canada, nvo day

government: —
» Charles Campbell’ asked for:

requirements
being placed on foreign firms
(such as specific. environmen-
cal . legislation) «and declares
that state enterprises act-“sole-
“dy in-accordance with com-
mercial © considerations,”
regardless of the public: inter-
est behind such enterprises.

Some of the effects of'such |
Inisses-faire agreements,
Which -are negotiated in’ the
private: interest and without
democratic. input; aré already.
prevalent i in Canada. ‘

‘The federal government is \

currently being ‘sued by. the

Ethyl Corporation over.“loss. -
.of potential. profit? resulting

froma federal action to regu-!

» date fuel additives to: protect.

Canadian : health’ standards

The; MAI promises. more: of:
such litigation, where private
firms (can threaten lawsuits

whenever ‘democratic .mea- >
“sures: are broughr into the ;

marketplace.’

» The» MAL is . as inch de
» political document. a8 it-is:an’

of immigration to the future
-to hear
ethe: Views ‘of the :citiz
‘Greater Vaneouveris no

“dy! enough ‘time. The

cries Out for. full disce
citizens: from: coast. to
_ Basically, Canada do

Government ¢ timat

~ costs S50 000 to pro
P Srefuge

‘Putting a fimi ia
' arrivals

“economic, cone. It indirectly

places power in the hands of

“foreign interests co ‘illegiti-
- mately influence many factors,
such ‘as environmental’ and :
labor standards and fiscal pale

icy, which should: be solely

_ under domestic jurisdiction: —

‘Why would we: risk= the
political consequences of the
MAL if,'as Jock Finlayson ‘of
the Busine
recently stated, both: foreign

investment in Canada, and by”:
Canada, is already’ g growing at..

a rapid pace?

While’: 1” applaud Mr.
White's ‘efforts. to inform his:
constituency onthe MAI, 1
‘feel that more -needs to’ ‘be

done. [would urge Mr. White:

to advocate, in Parliament, a
‘binding ‘national referendum
von the MAI, 2"

This ‘would:
right of all Canadians to ‘have
a ‘say "in-.our economic: and.

no better: way of ensuring tha
sufficient” and «fair “-debate
Je @nsues and that the will of the:
“, national policy: is Properly.

Be MARCH 25
TO SAT:, MARCH.28

ads, shows & in-slock-mutfers,
See location for otal:

; Council of B.C.

‘Keith A. Cameron ‘
" Barrister & Solicitor -
“(30 years experience |. °

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