Controversial NAFTA challenges continue to grow—study

OTTAWA—The number of challenges launched by foreign investors against Canada under NAFTA’s controversial investment rules continues to grow, says a study released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). The study looks at the six new NAFTA cases filed against Canada over the last two years and finds the targeting of environmental protection and natural resource management regulations particularly disturbing. Two recent actions include a challenge by multinational oil giant Exxon-Mobil to Newfoundland’s local economic development policies and another over the province of Ontario’s decision to halt a controversial project to dispose of Toronto’s landfill in a man-made lake. “Unfortunately, NAFTA’s investment rules are so broadly worded that these aggressive claims might well succeed,” remarked Scott Sinclair, the report’s author. “At a time when Canadians are more concerned than ever about protecting the environment, this is simply unacceptable.” Continue reading on the Gaianicity site and then return and post a comment.