The Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA), which was signed in secret by the Alberta and B.C. governments last April, will come into effect on April Fools Day, 2007. Join activists throughout the province who say NO to the agreement's implementation.
TILMA has been called "The New NAFTA," "Hurricane TILMA," "Another Bad Deal for Canada," and the "Death of Local Government." This deal extends privileges similar to those in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to corporations and individuals, allowing them to sue provincial governments and their official agencies for any regulations deemed harmful to investment (i.e. their ability to make a profit). The agreement assures investors that there will be no "barriers" to investment and will force governments, down to the municipal level, to harmonize regulations across the entire free-trade area, allowing investors to choose to work under the weaker regulation of the two provinces.
Under TILMA, even provincial or municipal policies designed to protect the environment and public health are vulnerable to attack from corporate lawsuits demanding compensation of up to $5 million.
The Alberta Ministry of International and Intergovernmental Relations has consistently stated that TILMA will save the provinces over $4 billion per year and create upwards of 78,000 jobs, all without leading to a deregulated market. However, both of these figures have been debunked by respected economists. And with the threat of $5-million lawsuits breathing down the backs of local governments, there is little doubt that municipal governments will be pressured to adopt lower standards and refrain from passing new regulations that are stricter than existing ones.
This is not an accident. In fact it was the intention of TILMA to put a chill on local government. "Too many jurisdictions in this country fear for their economies if they open the door too far," said former International and Intergovernmental Relations Minister Gary Mar in a speech to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. "Well, B.C. and Alberta have done more than open the door. We blew it off its hinges."
What can you do?
Provincial Day of Action - April 13, 2007
On April 13, join with other concerned citizens across Alberta to say NO to TILMA's implementation with a visit to your MLA's office. Let them know that they must stop the agreement from going into effect until the public has been consulted and a full debate in the legislature has taken place.
To find your MLA's contact information, click here.
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Call your MLA's local office and schedule a meeting to hear their views on TILMA and deliver this declaration (PDF).
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If your MLA cannot meet with you, take the declaration to her or his office and deliver it to the door of the office. To get media coverage, it would be best to have your event before noon, however some MLAs may not be back in their local office until the afternoon.
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In any case, call the media and let them know that you are taking action. We'll provide a sample press release once you let us know about your action!
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Encourage others to join you on April 13, and continue to write letters to the editors of your local papers. Letter writing tips and sample letters can be seen at: http://groups.google.com/group/stoptilma/.
Please contact the Council of Canadians office in Edmonton (contact details below) to hook up with other activists in your community, and for additional media support.
Be in touch, and take action to stop TILMA's implementation.
Best,
Lyn
Lyn Gorman
Prairies Regional Organizer, Council of Canadians
Tel: 780-429-4500 or 877-729-4500
E-mail: lgorman@canadians.org
Address: 34-9912, 106 Street, Edmonton AB, T5K 1C5
For more information about TILMA visit:
