NOVEMBER 2007 - TAKE ACTION NOW On April 31, 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. The BC Liberals have introduced Bill 17, which amends 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. When Bill 17 comes forward in the legislature the discussion will only allow for a debate on that Bill and discussion on the Agreement itself will be ruled out of order. A Private Members Bill named M212, which would allow for debate on the Agreement, has been put on the floor. This Bill introduces the full text of the Agreement into the legislature and would allow for significant debate on TILMA to take place in the legislature. If you are concerned about TILMA and the impact the Agreement will have on democratic process, we encourage you hit this link and send a letter to Premier Gordon Campbell and Minister of Economic Development Colin Hansen, letting them know that you want to see M212 brought forward to ensure debate on TILMA in the legislature. If you are concerned about TILMA and the impact the Agreement will have on democratic process, we encourage you hit www.canadians.org/action/2007/09-Nov-07.html and send a letter to Premier Gordon Campbell and Minister of Economic Development Colin Hansen, letting them know that you want to see M212 brought forward to ensure debate on TILMA in the legislature. You can ALSO fill out a petition online at: http://tinyurl.com/38usmu If you want copies of this petition in order to collect signatures in your community you can download a pdf here: http://tinyurl.com/yokr3e Background TILMA was signing in secret by the Premiers in 2006 without consultation with the bodies covered by the Agreement, without legislative debate and without public consultation with people in British Columbia. This is a sharp contrast to the pre-election promise of the BC Liberals to be the most open, transparent and accountable government in Canada. The Agreement has been called an attack on local choice because it frames public policy decision-making as a restriction to investment. The corporate investment model set up in TILMA allows those who see their investment as being trampled by public policies to sue governments for their loss of profit and make upwards of $5 million in tax-payer money in a NAFTA- style "court" system. The lack of transparency and consultation for an Agreement that could have wide ranging and long-term effects over democratic decision- making in the Province needs a public debate For more information visit: www.canadians.org/DI/issues/TILMA/index.html Thanks, Carleen Carleen Pickard BC-Yukon Regional Organizer, Council of Canadians #700-207 West Hastings St. Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7 (Toll free)1.888.566.3888 or (Phone)604.688.8846 or (Fax) 604.688.5756 www.canadians.org Founded in 1985, the Council of Canadians is Canada's largest citizens' organization, with members and chapters across the country. If you believe that our social programs and public services should be strengthened, not privatized; that our foreign and trade policies should be independent, not subservient to the United States; and that our water and natural resources should be protected, not exploited, please join us as a member.