The mechanism by which corporations will then be able to sue the Canadian government is in itself becoming a growing and profitable industry for successful claimants and international trade law firms. We know that active claims in 2009 and 2010 alone reached in the hundreds of billions in U.S. dollars. One of the main concerns we have here in Manitoba—if I could speak to that because that's what I know best—is with Manitoba Hydro. It plays a very important role in developing Manitoba's economy. There's a strategy to try to open up industry and economic growth in the north, and Manitoba Hydro plays a very important role in that. I know under CETA, and I assume under the TPP as well, there could be restrictions on Manitoba Hydro for the kind of procurement it does and for the kind of local economic development it's able to induce through the agreements that it has with many first nations communities on hydro development. Manitoba Hydro currently engages with first nations in training and job opportunities around hydro development. We're very concerned that kind of mechanism is not going to be able to work under the TPP.
We also have to worry when we think about what it is governments that are involved, particularly the United States, want from Manitoba. It's going to be energy and agriculture, but it's also going to be energy and water. What are the mechanisms that are in there that are going to protect Manitoba's water and Manitoba's energy? If corporations have the ability to sue the Manitoba and Canadian government for loss of profit because the Manitoba government wants to protect our resources, or wants to make sure that it's local first nations people who have access to these jobs, then it's very self-defeating for Manitoba.