B.C. New Democrats question premier on Canada-China FIPPA

VICTORIA – B.C. New Democrat critic for economic development and trade Jenny Kwan wrote to Premier Christy Clark last week to ask what the B.C. government has done to protect the interests of British Columbians and evaluate the impacts on our province from the looming Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.

The agreement, due to take effect on Nov. 1, 2012, was only tabled in the House of Commons on Sept. 26, 2012, leaving very little time for public discussion before the federal Conservatives lock Canada in for the 31 year agreement.

Kwan noted that British Columbians have not heard from the premier on this important and controversial agreement, and asked that she urge the federal government to allow for parliamentary debate on the agreement to ensure it receives sufficient public scrutiny and to ensure British Columbia has the opportunity to publicly air its position.

Kwan’s letter to the premier is attached.

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