The Council of Canadians Kelowna chapter has written their City Council asking it to take action against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
The chapter’s letter highlighted that the TPP investment chapter includes:
“Article 9.2: Scope
2. A Party’s obligations under this Chapter shall apply to measures adopted or maintained by:
(a) the central, regional or local governments or authorities of that Party;
Article 10.1: Definitions
measures adopted or maintained by a Party means measures adopted or maintained by:
(a) central, regional, or local governments or authorities;”
University of British Columbia political science professor Michael Byers has warned, “There’s the very real possibility that large cities could pay millions of dollars in arbitration and they have no say in the matter. This is being imposed on them.”
And University of Auckland law professor Jane Kelsey has written, “Investors from TPP countries will have the power to challenge local government decisions that damage their commercial interests, including disputed procurement or PPP [public private partnership] contracts, planning and consent processes, or blocking price increases for utilities like water or sanitation. …The contracting out of services, greater use of PPPs, including for water, and asset sales will intensify the exposure of local government to the TPP and heighten the risks of investor-state disputes over disputed contracts.”
In other words, this 12-country global trade agreement could have major implications for Canadian municipalities.
But Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran replied to the chapter, “Thank you for your correspondence. It has been shared with City Council. I appreciate your concerns but this is a jurisdiction of the federal government and outside of our mandate. I would encourage you to contact your local Member of Parliament with your concerns.”
Despite Mayor Basran’s dismissive attitude, other cities are concerned.
The Globe and Mail has reported, “[Vancouver city] councillors asked city staff on [December 1, 2015] to examine concerns that the TPP’s investor-state dispute settlement provision – also known as ISDS – will compromise the city’s authority by allowing corporations to sue over municipal legislation that results in loss of profits.”
On April 26, Nanaimo city council unanimously passed a resolution that stated, “BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Nanaimo Mayor and Council express its opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement and communicate this to Prime Minister Trudeau, Cabinet Ministers and every Member of Parliament.”
And numerous cities in the United States have also declared their opposition to the TPP, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tampa.
The Northwest Territories chapter has also recently sent a request to Yellowknife city council to adopt a position against the TPP.
Council of Canadians chapters are encouraged to do as the Kelowna and NWT chapters have done and write their municipal council on this issue.
For more on our campaign to stop the TPP, please click here.
