> >For immediate release September 25, 1997 > > > >NDP CALLS FOR EMERGENCY DEBATE ON MAI > > > >Ottawa --- NDP Trade Critic Bill Blaikie will call today for an emergency > >debate in the House of Commons on the Multilateral Agreement on Investments > >(MAI). > > > >=91The Liberal government is negotiating a trade agreement with far-reachin= > g > >implications for the sovereignty of Canada,=92 said Mr.Blaikie. =91Canadia= > ns > >deserve a debate to know what is at stake for labour standards, our social > >programs, and for our cultural sovereignty.=92 > > > >The MAI is a global trade agreement under negotiation at the Organization > >for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Following upon NAFTA and > > the WTO, it is an attempt to further de-regulate global capital markets > >and reduce the capacity of governments to enforce socially and > >environmentally responsible behaviour on the part of multinational > >corporations. > > > >Where NAFTA allows countries to withdraw with six months notice, the > >current draft of the MAI would lock signatories into the agreement with a > >20 year withdrawal period. As Mr. Blaikie said in his application for an > >emergency debate, this =91would offend the centuries-old principle of > >>parliamentary government that no Government or Parliament may tie the hand= > s > >of a future Parliament. Under the terms of the draft agreement, no future > >government would be able to withdraw from the agreement within the life > >span of a single Parliament, even if a democratically elected majority of > >this House expressed the will to do so.=92 > > > >Mr. Blaikie=92s statement continued: =91We do not, like the Americans, have= > a > >system of government where the Executive must seek leave from Congress to > >negotiate treaties without first consulting as to the terms of the treaties > >- that is, the so-called fast track procedure. We do, however, have the > >Standing Orders and a parliamentary culture that allow the Members of > >Parliament to seek an emergency debate on a burning issue when the > >Government for its own reasons fails to consult the Commons.=92 > > > >Mr. Blaikie hoped that the Speaker would grant the opportunity for a debate > >that the Canadian public deserve but which the Liberals refuse to hold. > > > > -30- > > > >Egalement disponible en fran=E7ais. > > > > >
