(Ottawa) The Liberal government’s retreat on its ban of the dangerous gasoline additive MMT, is a clear warning that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) places Canadians’ health secondary to corporate interests, says the Council of Canadians.

"NAFTA leaves the government powerless to protect the health of Canadians, when big business interests are at stake, " said Jo Dufay, National Campaign Coordinator with the Council of Canadians. "The makers of MMT have been given rights once reserved for governments – and ordinary citizens, health and the environment are just left standing in the dust." Sergio Marchi has repeatedly said, since his appointment as Trade Minister that NAFTA will not affect the health of Canadians. "This is outrageous, Sergio Marchi should resign immediately."

Ethyl Corp, the makers of MMT had been suing the Canadian Government under NAFTA for $250 million (US), following the Liberal’s ban on MMT last year. News reports today indicate that the Liberals will drop the ban, and pay $10 million to Ethyl.

"This is a shady back room deal between a government and a corporation," said Dufay. "Last year MMT was so dangerous that the Liberals banned it. Today they’re allowing it and shoving fistfuls of taxpayers money into the back pockets of this corporation, for good measure. Under NAFTA, Canadians can look forward to more of the same." Dufay called on the Canadian government to affirm its ban on MMT, and to move to protect Canadians’ health and the environment by abrogating NAFTA and withdrawing from similar free trade agreements, including the MAI.

The Council of Canadians is a national non-partisan, public interest group committed to promoting social and economic justice and defending citizen’s rights.

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