Today’s announcement of modifications to investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is smoke and mirrors, says the Council of Canadians. Council representatives are available to comment on the announcement.
“The government is presenting this reform to CETA as a ‘fairer, more transparent, system,’ but it still enshrines corporate rights and enables giant European corporations to sue the Canadian government. Tinkering with the dispute settlement process doesn’t change this fundamental flaw,” says Garry Neil, Executive Director of the Council of Canadians.
“This is a dangerous new way to give transnational corporations their own court, which local companies and groups can’t access,” says Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians. “These changes don’t address the concerns that led to the massive public outcry over ISDS in both Canada and Europe.”
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