Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
The TPP, I think, will be financially reckless as far as Canada is concerned. Canada at the beginning of 2015 was contingently liable for $6 billion as a result of claims under NAFTA, which has provisions similar to what there would be in the TPP. Therefore, the potential financial liability under TPP, where there are so many more countries involved, is far greater.
Secondly, Canada has lost more cases under NAFTA that it has won, and the United States has never lost a case under NAFTA. Therefore, I think that to ratify it would be fiscally reckless.
Democracy and our courts evolved over centuries from the Magna Carta in 1215. At that time a totalitarian king ruled England. Barons began the process towards wresting power from the king. Now it seems we want to create a new king in the form of investors and private tribunals to wrest self-governance from the people of Canada. Their legitimate expectations, a very nebulous term, will decide cases, and Canada and its communities will not be able to enforce core community values.