Canada has a long tradition of proactive industrial strategies dating back to the National Policy of our first government. Today, it's more important than ever that the interests of people and nature be at the heart of industrial and economic policy.
The Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) will make it difficult for Canadian federal, provincial or municipal governments to use many of the tools used successfully in other countries to create jobs and develop the economy.
Under the agreement, Chinese companies will be entitled to the same treatment as Canadian companies. Chinese companies will also have the ability to appeal to tribunals for compensation if they can argue that federal, provincial or municipal laws or policies affect their profits.
The attempt of HD Mining International in British Columbia to use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to push down wages is a reminder that the difference between good and bad jobs is the ability of workers to fight for better conditions.
