(OTTAWA) Three prominent lawsuits arising from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) should be put on hold while the environmental impacts of the cases are evaluated, say spokespersons for three leading national groups. Greenpeace, Sierra Club of Canada and The Council of Canadians have outlined their concerns in a letter sent today to the environment ministers of Mexico, the United States and Canada, as well as to the NAFTA body that is supposed to protect the environment from the deal’s harmful effects.

The letter calls for the suspension of three investor-state disputes related to environmental issues, while key aspects of NAFTA are sorted out. The Council of NAFTA Environment Ministers has already agreed to undertake a public inquiry into one of the cases, following a letter sent by Greenpeace, Sierra Club and The Council of Canadians late last year. Since that time, two further cases have come to light, and the groups want these cases included in the inquiry. The earlier case concerns PCB waste, the two latter cases arise from disputes over bulk water exports and the Softwood Lumber Accord. All three could have dramatic consequences for the environment.

"Canada already rolled over on MMT in gasoline," said Maude Barlow, chairperson of The Council of Canadians. "We want to know just how far this deal goes in harming our environment. The NAFTA environment ministers owe the citizens of their countries a thorough and public investigation."

"These cases are heard in complete secrecy," said Peter Tabuns of Greenpeace, "yet the outcomes will profoundly affect Canadians and the environment. A roomful of guys in grey suits should not be allowed to rewrite Canada’s ability to protect the environment. The public has the right to know what is going on."

"NAFTA’s Chapter 11 imposed a corporate rule regime of the MAI without debate in Canada," said Elizabeth May, Executive Director of the Sierra Club. "Minister Marchi now has all of the evidence Canada needs to renegotiate this open invitation to polluter lawsuits and shut it down."

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