Action Alert: Write your MLA and Tell Them to Scrap Bill 32!
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Stop TILMA!
Apr 18, 2008, 4:54:13 PM4/18/08
to TILMA-BC
-- Bill 32: Sweeping legislation aims to bring more than a dozen
provincial laws into line with secret trade pact --
Despite widespread opposition to the Trade Investment Labour Mobility
Agreement (TILMA), the BC Liberals introduced sweeping legislation on
this week to bring a number of provincial laws into compliance with
the secret trade pact.
The TILMA Implementation Act (Bill 32) amends more than a dozen
statutes to accommodate the secret trade deal signed by the premiers
of B.C. and Alberta in 2006. But legislators are still being denied
any debate on TILMA itself.
You can see the introduction of the Bill and the wording of it here:
http://www.leg.bc.ca/38th4th/1st_read/gov32-1.htm
http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/38th4th/H80417x.htm
Tell your MLA that you want to see the government to engage the public
in meaningful consultation and a legislative debate on TILMA. Remind
them that there is community opposition to an agreement that threatens
public interest legislation, social programs and regulations for the
interests of corporations and business.
To find the contact information for your Member of the Legislative
Assembly, go to http://www.leg.bc.ca/Mla/3-1-1.htm. Premier Gordon
Campbell and Minister Colin Hansen can be sent a message at
pre...@gov.bc.ca, Colin.Ha...@leg.bc.ca
-- Sample letter you can send to your MLA: --
Dear Premier Gordon Campbell/Minister Colin Hansen/Your MLA:
Re: Scrap Bill 32 and Bring TILMA forward for a Legislative Debate
The Trade Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement was signed in
secret, without public consultation and will dramatically impact
decision making by government entities including municipalities,
school boards and crown corporations.
I demand the government put forward TILMA to allow for full
legislative debate. The introduction of the full text of TILMA into
the legislature will be in line with the government's stated desire to
be the most open and accountable government in Canada.
Bill 32 will only allow for a debate on that Bill and discussion on
the Agreement itself will be ruled out of order.
This Agreement enshrines a corporate investment model which views
public policy choices from elected officials as a restriction to
investment. TILMA incorporates a NAFTA-style private court system
which allows Alberta-based individuals and corporations to sidestep
B.C. laws and courts to directly challenge local, regional and
provincial government practices.
Governments naturally restrict private sector investments because they
provide public services in sectors like health, education, or any of
the services Crown Corporations offer. TILMA has the potential to
greatly impair particular sectors in B.C., on the environment, the
economy, and the province's social fabric.
As government bodies learn about the potential effects of this
agreement from concerned citizens, public pressure has forced the
government to initiate a consultation process with local governments.
In September 2007, municipalities across BC voted to reject the
Agreement at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. After a
month of presentations from trade experts, the province of
Saskatchewan also turned down the invite to join TILMA.
Premier Campbell and Minister Hansen, we are calling on you to
demonstrate at least a minimal degree of responsibility and democratic
accountability and debate TILMA in the legislature.
Yours Sincerely,
Additional points you can use in your letter:
http://groups.google.ca/group/stoptilma/web/important-points-you-can-use-to-write-a-letter-to-the-editor-on-tilma
Background:
On April 1, 2007, the Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement
(TILMA) came into effect in the provinces of British Columbia and
Alberta. The province of B.C. has yet to debate the need for such an
agreement, even in the most obvious of places, including the
legislature. In the spring of 2007, the BC Liberals introduced Bill
17, which would have amended the current legislation that allows
courts to order the BC government to pay out monetary settlements,
through the private court system set up under TILMA. Although Bill 17
died on the floor in December 2007, the BC Liberals introduced Bill 32
this week. Bill 32 will only allow for a debate on that Bill and
discussion on the Agreement itself will be ruled out of order.
TILMA is a legally binding agreement between the provinces of B.C. and
Alberta that allows businesses and individuals to sue either province,
including provincial ministries, school boards and municipalities when
they feel that any regulation and policy "restricts or impairs"
investment. The corporate investment model set up in the controversial
TILMA allows investors to sue governments for upwards of $5 million.
Want to do more?
1- You can fill out a petition online at:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/bring-m212-forward-for-a-legislative-debate-on-tilma
2- If you want copies of this petition in order to collect signatures
in your community you can download a pdf here:
http://stoptilma.googlegroups.com/web/TILMA+Leg+petition+Jan+2008.pdf
3- Tell your friends and family in Alberta about similar legislation
introduced this week.
Please cut and past this message from Sheila Muxlow, Prairie
Organizer, Council of Canadians and pass it on.
ACTION ALERT: The Government of Alberta must not pass Bill 1
Following the Speech from the Throne on Tuesday, Premier Ed Stelmach
introduced Bill 1, the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement
Implementation Statutes Amendment Act.
The bill paves the way for the full implementation of the Trade,
Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA), the controversial
inter-provincial trade agreement signed between British Columbia and
Alberta, without any public consultation or legislative debate, in
April, 2006.
TILMA allows corporations and powerful individuals to challenge any
provincial or municipal government measure they feel ‘restricts or
impairs’ their investment (i.e. their profits). Even measures designed
to protect public health and the environment can be brought to an
unelected NAFTA-like dispute panel with the authority to impose
penalties as high as $5 million on the offending province and/or
municipality.
TAKE ACTION
Bill 1 creates a window of opportunity for those concerned to inform
our MLA’s about our discontent with TILMA. By blocking Bill 1 we can
send a strong message to Premier Ed Stelmach that corporate ambitions
will not trump our democratic rights.
To find the contact information for your Member of the Legislative
Assembly, simply go to http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_home.
Premier Ed Stelmach can be sent a message through the Premier’s
website at http://premier.alberta.ca/contact/.
Please contact your MLA and express your concern about our government
leaders furthering TILMA without the appropriate public consultation
or legislative debate it requires.
DRAFT MESSAGE
Premier Stelmach/ Your MLA,
I am deeply concerned with the proposal of Bill 1, titled the Trade,
Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement Implementation Statutes
Amendment Act, and I am calling on you to stop any further motions to
support this bill.
In light of the fact that TILMA was signed in April 2006 without any
public input or legislative debate it is irresponsible for the Alberta
government to pass legislation that further entrenches TILMA without
releasing the full text for a thorough public review.
Organizations like the Council of Canadians, CUPE & the Parkland
Institute have exposed TILMA for undermining the authority of
provinces and municipalities to uniquely protect the public interest
on issues of healthcare, education, the environment, and the economy.
A recent legal opinion for the municipalities of Saskatchewan confirms
many of our fears about the impact TILMA will have on the ability of
communities to develop as they want to. It removes the democratic
space cities and towns need to grow and prosper.
TILMA allows private companies to legally challenge publicly made
laws, regulations, policies and programs and receive compensation of
up to $5 million from the public tax base. For example if an Albertan
government wants to impose a junk food ban in their schools to promote
the health of their children, or regulate carbon emission to address
climate change, these policies would not withstand a challenge under
TILMA because any company providing such products with a business
license in British Columbia could claim that such a ban "restricts"
its investment - which it clearly does.
Bill 1 must not be passed and the Government of Alberta must release
the full text of TILMA to allow for a significant debate on the future
of Albertan communities and the civil rights we have as citizens to
decide our own futures.
Sincerely,
<your name>
provincial laws into line with secret trade pact --
Despite widespread opposition to the Trade Investment Labour Mobility
Agreement (TILMA), the BC Liberals introduced sweeping legislation on
this week to bring a number of provincial laws into compliance with
the secret trade pact.
The TILMA Implementation Act (Bill 32) amends more than a dozen
statutes to accommodate the secret trade deal signed by the premiers
of B.C. and Alberta in 2006. But legislators are still being denied
any debate on TILMA itself.
You can see the introduction of the Bill and the wording of it here:
http://www.leg.bc.ca/38th4th/1st_read/gov32-1.htm
http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/38th4th/H80417x.htm
Tell your MLA that you want to see the government to engage the public
in meaningful consultation and a legislative debate on TILMA. Remind
them that there is community opposition to an agreement that threatens
public interest legislation, social programs and regulations for the
interests of corporations and business.
To find the contact information for your Member of the Legislative
Assembly, go to http://www.leg.bc.ca/Mla/3-1-1.htm. Premier Gordon
Campbell and Minister Colin Hansen can be sent a message at
pre...@gov.bc.ca, Colin.Ha...@leg.bc.ca
-- Sample letter you can send to your MLA: --
Dear Premier Gordon Campbell/Minister Colin Hansen/Your MLA:
Re: Scrap Bill 32 and Bring TILMA forward for a Legislative Debate
The Trade Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement was signed in
secret, without public consultation and will dramatically impact
decision making by government entities including municipalities,
school boards and crown corporations.
I demand the government put forward TILMA to allow for full
legislative debate. The introduction of the full text of TILMA into
the legislature will be in line with the government's stated desire to
be the most open and accountable government in Canada.
Bill 32 will only allow for a debate on that Bill and discussion on
the Agreement itself will be ruled out of order.
This Agreement enshrines a corporate investment model which views
public policy choices from elected officials as a restriction to
investment. TILMA incorporates a NAFTA-style private court system
which allows Alberta-based individuals and corporations to sidestep
B.C. laws and courts to directly challenge local, regional and
provincial government practices.
Governments naturally restrict private sector investments because they
provide public services in sectors like health, education, or any of
the services Crown Corporations offer. TILMA has the potential to
greatly impair particular sectors in B.C., on the environment, the
economy, and the province's social fabric.
As government bodies learn about the potential effects of this
agreement from concerned citizens, public pressure has forced the
government to initiate a consultation process with local governments.
In September 2007, municipalities across BC voted to reject the
Agreement at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. After a
month of presentations from trade experts, the province of
Saskatchewan also turned down the invite to join TILMA.
Premier Campbell and Minister Hansen, we are calling on you to
demonstrate at least a minimal degree of responsibility and democratic
accountability and debate TILMA in the legislature.
Yours Sincerely,
Additional points you can use in your letter:
http://groups.google.ca/group/stoptilma/web/important-points-you-can-use-to-write-a-letter-to-the-editor-on-tilma
Background:
On April 1, 2007, the Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement
(TILMA) came into effect in the provinces of British Columbia and
Alberta. The province of B.C. has yet to debate the need for such an
agreement, even in the most obvious of places, including the
legislature. In the spring of 2007, the BC Liberals introduced Bill
17, which would have amended the current legislation that allows
courts to order the BC government to pay out monetary settlements,
through the private court system set up under TILMA. Although Bill 17
died on the floor in December 2007, the BC Liberals introduced Bill 32
this week. Bill 32 will only allow for a debate on that Bill and
discussion on the Agreement itself will be ruled out of order.
TILMA is a legally binding agreement between the provinces of B.C. and
Alberta that allows businesses and individuals to sue either province,
including provincial ministries, school boards and municipalities when
they feel that any regulation and policy "restricts or impairs"
investment. The corporate investment model set up in the controversial
TILMA allows investors to sue governments for upwards of $5 million.
Want to do more?
1- You can fill out a petition online at:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/bring-m212-forward-for-a-legislative-debate-on-tilma
2- If you want copies of this petition in order to collect signatures
in your community you can download a pdf here:
http://stoptilma.googlegroups.com/web/TILMA+Leg+petition+Jan+2008.pdf
3- Tell your friends and family in Alberta about similar legislation
introduced this week.
Please cut and past this message from Sheila Muxlow, Prairie
Organizer, Council of Canadians and pass it on.
ACTION ALERT: The Government of Alberta must not pass Bill 1
Following the Speech from the Throne on Tuesday, Premier Ed Stelmach
introduced Bill 1, the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement
Implementation Statutes Amendment Act.
The bill paves the way for the full implementation of the Trade,
Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA), the controversial
inter-provincial trade agreement signed between British Columbia and
Alberta, without any public consultation or legislative debate, in
April, 2006.
TILMA allows corporations and powerful individuals to challenge any
provincial or municipal government measure they feel ‘restricts or
impairs’ their investment (i.e. their profits). Even measures designed
to protect public health and the environment can be brought to an
unelected NAFTA-like dispute panel with the authority to impose
penalties as high as $5 million on the offending province and/or
municipality.
TAKE ACTION
Bill 1 creates a window of opportunity for those concerned to inform
our MLA’s about our discontent with TILMA. By blocking Bill 1 we can
send a strong message to Premier Ed Stelmach that corporate ambitions
will not trump our democratic rights.
To find the contact information for your Member of the Legislative
Assembly, simply go to http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_home.
Premier Ed Stelmach can be sent a message through the Premier’s
website at http://premier.alberta.ca/contact/.
Please contact your MLA and express your concern about our government
leaders furthering TILMA without the appropriate public consultation
or legislative debate it requires.
DRAFT MESSAGE
Premier Stelmach/ Your MLA,
I am deeply concerned with the proposal of Bill 1, titled the Trade,
Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement Implementation Statutes
Amendment Act, and I am calling on you to stop any further motions to
support this bill.
In light of the fact that TILMA was signed in April 2006 without any
public input or legislative debate it is irresponsible for the Alberta
government to pass legislation that further entrenches TILMA without
releasing the full text for a thorough public review.
Organizations like the Council of Canadians, CUPE & the Parkland
Institute have exposed TILMA for undermining the authority of
provinces and municipalities to uniquely protect the public interest
on issues of healthcare, education, the environment, and the economy.
A recent legal opinion for the municipalities of Saskatchewan confirms
many of our fears about the impact TILMA will have on the ability of
communities to develop as they want to. It removes the democratic
space cities and towns need to grow and prosper.
TILMA allows private companies to legally challenge publicly made
laws, regulations, policies and programs and receive compensation of
up to $5 million from the public tax base. For example if an Albertan
government wants to impose a junk food ban in their schools to promote
the health of their children, or regulate carbon emission to address
climate change, these policies would not withstand a challenge under
TILMA because any company providing such products with a business
license in British Columbia could claim that such a ban "restricts"
its investment - which it clearly does.
Bill 1 must not be passed and the Government of Alberta must release
the full text of TILMA to allow for a significant debate on the future
of Albertan communities and the civil rights we have as citizens to
decide our own futures.
Sincerely,
<your name>
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