TILMA Bill 32 Second Reading in the Legislature today - take action tonight!

[Stop TILMA!]

All,

Further to the Action Alert posted April 18 re Bill 32 (TRADE,
INVESTMENT AND LABOUR MOBILITY AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT), it came
up for second reading in the House today, moved by Minister Hansen.
The Hansard transcript of the discussion can be read (and watched) at
http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/38th4th/H80513x.htm.

MLA Charlie Wyse spoke at length against the Bill, and concluded
remarks with:
"I ask: who looked out for B.C. and its citizens when the Premier
signed this deal? It raises the need for Bill 32 to be defeated. The
government has signed away the rights of B.C. to govern itself. The
government has turned over the province to the interpretation of a
three-person panel. That is quite clear."

The debate was adjourned before lunch and has yet to be brought back.
I encourage you to Act Now (or again!) and contact Premier Campbell,
Minister Hansen and your MLA to voice your opposition to Bill 32 and
TILMA before it comes back to the floor for further debate and a vote.

Thanks,
Carleen

* Write your MLA and Tell Them to Scrap Bill 32! *


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
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- Collect petition signatures in your community:
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. http://www.canadians.org/action/2008/16-Apr-08.html