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[transformative-change] Meetings on M.A.I.
Two different meetings in Ottawa on the MAI on Sep 30th, as follows. The
second one is a must-see, a debate between Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke and
MAI proponents. See attachment; if you have problems with it tell me and I
will send full text:
MEETINGS ON
The M.A.I.
Would it
END DEMOCRACY?
Without any public consultation, our government plans to sign a new global
free-trade deal, the Multilateral Agreement on Investment.
The MAI is about much more than trade. It would allow transnational
corporations to sue, in their own MAI court, to have almost any law removed
-- even our local bylaws -- that violated the MAI. As it is now drafted,
there would be no appeal. Governments would not even have any right to
countersue.
Why should we allow it? What can we do about it? We have ideas on this.
We'll begin each meeting with questions, then talk strategy and action:
Rm. 238 Simard Hall (Univ. of Ottawa)
Tuesdays at 7pm
Oct 7th & 21st, Nov 4th & 18th
Rm. 401 Dunton Tower (Carleton Univ.)
Tuesday at 4:30 - 6pm
Sept 30th, Oct 14th & 28th, Nov 11th & 25th
Organized by the MAI-Not! Project, OPIRG-Carleton, 520-2757.
Are you on the net? http://www.flora.org/mai-not/ links with an MAI
resource kit, discussion group flora.mai-not and other MAI websites.
==============
The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa is having a forum
"the MAI and U"
Tuesday, September 30, 7:30 pm
at 30 Cleary Ave. OTtawa (near Richmond and Woodroffe)
Will it be an ecomomic cure-all for the 21st century?
What will you gain or lose?
For further information phone 730-9614 or email kshackle@web.net
--
Bill Royds
Hunt-Club/OT8(Mooney's Bay)/R16
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<TITLE> THE MAI AND U</TITLE>
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<P><H1THE MAI AND U</H1></P>
<H3>A meeting to promote public understanding of the Multilateral Agreement
on Investment, to be held at <B>The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa,
30 Cleary Avenue, on</B> </H3>
<P><B>Tuesday, September 30, 1997 at 7:30 p.m.</B></P>
<P><B>The MAI: Will it be an economic cure-all for the 21st century? or</B>
</P>
<P><B>Will it be the ultimate grab by banks and multi-national corporations?
and</B> </P>
<P><B>What will you gain or lose?</B> </P>
<P><B>Panelists:</B> </P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Maude Barlow Council of Canadians</B> </LI>
<LI><B>Tony Clarke Polaris Institute</B> </LI>
<LI><B>Douglas Gregory Canadian Chamber of Commerce</B> </LI>
<LI><B>Prof. Michael Hart Carleton University</B> </LI>
<LI><B>A Representative of the Government of Canada (not yet confirmed)</B>
</LI>
</UL>
<P>Each Panelist will be asked the following questions. Time limits are
as indicated for each question. The order of speaking will be varied. </P>
<P>For several questions, there will be a period of time for discussion.
This is intended to provide an opportunity to pursue differences of opinion
and to try to achieve a better understanding of the reasons for such differences.
</P>
<P>Speakers are encouraged to respond to statements of other speakers with
the proviso that such responses should be designed to contribute to a better
understanding of the MAI and its implications.
<HR WIDTH="100%"></P>
<P>1. What is the MAI and what is its purpose? In your opinion, what effects
will it have? (Each speaker is requested to address what they consider
to be the major aspects of the proposed agreement including, as a minimum,
the following issues: </P>
<UL>
<LI>- Most Favoured Nation treatment/ National Treatment </LI>
<LI>- Free flow of money related to investments </LI>
<LI>- Length of time a country is obliged to adhere to the agreement </LI>
<LI>- The use of country-specific reservations (exemptions) from provisions
of the agreement; standstill and rollback provisions. ) </LI>
</UL>
<P>Time: 5 minutes for each speaker. </P>
<P>
<HR WIDTH="100%"><BR>
2. The Preamble of the MAI states that the agreement is intended to "contribute
to the efficient utilisation of economic resources, the creation of employment
opportunities and the improvement of living standards." </P>
<P>What effect do you think that the MAI will have on the average Canadian,
and particularly on:: </P>
<UL>
<LI>- Jobs for Canadians </LI>
<LI>- The level of wages and employment benefits </LI>
<LI>- The trend in recent years towards a much greater gap between rich
and poor </LI>
<LI>- The quality of health and social services available to all citizens.
</LI>
</UL>
<P>Time: 2 minutes for each speaker plus 5 minutes for discussion. </P>
<P><BR>
<HR WIDTH="100%">3. Some people have expressed concern that the MAI would
unduly restrict the powers of governments to protect and promote the interest
of the public. </P>
<P>In your opinion, how would the MAI affect the ability of governments
to: </P>
<UL>
<LI>(a) Protect the health and safety of workers and workers' rights, and
Maintain adequate minimum wages </LI>
<LI>(b) Protect the environment </LI>
<LI>(c) Regulate imports and exports </LI>
<LI>(d) Limit foreign ownership of banks, media, cultural institutions,
land and natural resources </LI>
<LI>(e) Apply sanctions against countries which abuse human rights (e.g.
as previously applied to South Africa). </LI>
</UL>
<P>Time: 1 minute each per item; total 5 minutes for each speaker. </P>
<P>
<HR WIDTH="100%">4. In your opinion, how would the MAI affect the ability
of governments to provide incentives to take other steps to promote and
protect: </P>
<UL>
<LI>- Small businesses </LI>
<LI>- Local businesses and development in designated regions (e.g. Newfoundland)
</LI>
<LI>- Jobs for Canadians </LI>
<LI>- Research and development activity (e.g. pharmaceuticals) </LI>
<LI>- Technology transfer to Canada. </LI>
</UL>
<P>Time: 2 minutes each plus 5 minutes for discussion. </P>
<P>
<HR WIDTH="100%">5. The dispute settlement provisions of the MAI would
be a major new element of the international legal system. </P>
<P>What do you think about the proposed dispute resolution process and
particularly about: - The use of arbitrators rather than the International
Court of Justice or a similar body </P>
<UL>
<LI>- The powers that arbitrators would have </LI>
<LI>- The method for the selection of arbitrators. </LI>
</UL>
<P>Time: 2 minutes for each speaker plus 5 minutes for discussion. </P>
<P>
<HR WIDTH="100%">6. The MAI, as drafted, places obligations on governments
and provides major benefits to international companies. What would you
think of adding to the MAI provisions that would require international
companies to meet the highest international standards applicable in any
MAI country in which they operate with regard to matters such as: </P>
<UL>
<LI>- environmental protection </LI>
<LI>- health and safety of workers </LI>
<LI>- human rights protection </LI>
<LI>- product safety </LI>
<LI>- truth in advertising. </LI>
</UL>
<P>This would be a form of "Most Favoured Nation" treatment by
the business enterprises. </P>
<P>Time: 3 minutes for each speaker. </P>
<P>
<HR WIDTH="100%"><BR>
Timing: These questions are to be completed about 9:30 pm. To be followed
by 30 minutes of questions from the floor. </P>
<P>If you have questions or comments about the questions or meeting format
please contact Bill Van Iterson, the Chair of the meeting, at (613) 722-8077.
Such comments may lead to some further changes in the questions or format.
</P>
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