[S.I.S.I.S. note: this information was sent to us by one of our subscribers for release.]
A sub-committee of the International Trade and Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Standing Committee is to hold public hearings on the MAI during the month of November.
Last week Sergio Marchi, Canadian Minister of International Trade, announced that he was asking the Parliamentary Standing committee on International Trade and Foreign Affairs to undertake the responsibility for holding public hearings on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), and report back with their findings by mid December 1997.
The main committee has now completed forming a sub-committee, which will be responsible for holding the hearings. The sub-committee is required to report its findings and recommendations to the main committee by mid-December 1997.
The sub-committee is made up of 9 members, chaired by Bob Speller, Liberal member, Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant, Ontario. The committee is composed of 5 Liberals, 1 NDP, 1 Bloc Quebecois, 1 Reform, and 1 Conservative member. The following are the members of the committee, and their fax and phone numbers:
Name Phone Fax Mr. Bob Speller, Liberal: Chair (613) 996 - 4974 (613) 996 - 9749 Ms. Sarmite Bulte, Liberal (613) 992 - 2936 (613) 995 - 1629 Ms. Raymonde Folco, Liberal (613) 992 - 2659 (613) 992 - 9469 Mr. Rebert Nault, Liberal (613) 996 - 1161 (613) 996 - 1759 Mr. Julian Reed, Liberal (613) 996 - 7046 (613) 992 - 0851 Mr. Charlie Penson, Reform (613) 992 - 5685 (613) 947 - 4782 Ms. Benoit Sauvageau, BQ (613) 992 - 5257 (613) 996 - 4338 Mr. Bill Blaikie, NDP (613) 995 - 6339 (613) 995 - 6688 Mr. Scott Brison, PC (613) 995 - 8231 (613) 996 - 9349 Mr. Richard Romus: Clerk (613) 996 - 1664 (613) 947 - 9670It is planned for the Committee to commence sitting on November 3rd, with hearings to begin on November 4th.
The Committee schedule will be 3 days of hearings the week of November 3rd, then a one week recess for Remembrance Day, followed by 8 days of hearings during the last 2 weeks of November.
It is important that we fight global trade agreements such as the MAI which would even further open up indigenous lands for corporate exploitation, and put more powers in the hands of corporations.