Protection of Canadian industries abroad is the reason government it must participate in the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, says a trade department spokesperson.
The agreement is based on non-discrimination and protection for investors in the world market. This means governments must treat foreign and domestic producers the same.
“Although we are an important economic country, we can’t be like the U.S. and live without rules, because we’re not strong enough to bully people into doing what we want. And we don’t want them to bully us either,” said Dexter Bishop, spokesperson for the federal department of foreign affairs and international trade.
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The MAI will help protect Canada from pressures from other countries, Bishop said: “The advantage for us is making sure that other people live by the rules.”
Bishop contradicted MAI critics who say the agreement will allow corporations to dominate the government’s right to regulate.
He said all corporations are subject to Canadian law, including environmental and labor laws.
Critics have accused the government of keeping the MAI negotiations secret. Bishop said the agreement was announced to the public, but the media didn’t pay attention.
