The Hon. Lorne Nystrom (N.D.P.)
Answers to Survey of Canadian Members of Parliament on the Multilateral Agreement
on Investment (MAI) and Financial Services Agreement (FSA)
Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan
Language Pref.: English
Room 274, Wellington Building
Tel: (613) 992-4593
Fax: (613) 996-3120
Date responded: 17 Mar 98
Attached: pages from Householder: article against MAI,
recommending the internet in face of "commercial press blackout." Very active on
FSA; assistant explained that "Canada's final offer" was inadequate. For MPs to
understand the whole 1,000-page proposal, Finance Canada must release a public explanation in
lay terms.
| MAI | FSA | 1. Have you read the MAI draft text (May or Oct '97) and "Canada's final offer" on FSA? |
| a) cover to cover | ||
| x | x | b) skimmed FSA: think so, but needed greater clarification. If it's the 1,000 document, no. |
| c) certain sections only | ||
| d) not yet | ||
| MAI | FSA | 2. How are you informing yourself on the implications of the proposed MAI and FSA? |
| x | a) party caucus resource people | |
| x | b) Minister's office | |
| x | c) own inquiry | |
| x | d) other Council of Canadians, press, internet: like the OPIRG site (see Householder) |
|
| MAI | FSA | 3. What is your own position on the proposed MAI and FSA? |
| a) haven't formed a position | ||
| b) fully supportive | ||
| x | c) have reservations but will accept the party position | |
| x | x | d) have the following objections that must be satisfied before I will lend my name in
support MAI: please refer to Bill Blaikie's minority report. FSA: it should not give away Canada's sovereign authority over its own financial services; still not enough info on the table. |
| e) will oppose it in total | ||
| MAI | FSA | 4. How are you informing constituents on the implications of the proposed MAI and FSA? |
| x | a) Have used my Member's householder to explain to all my constituents
Householder enclosed | |
| x | b) Will use the householder to explain own and Party's position | |
| x | c) Have organized or attended public meetings to explain own and Party's position | |
| d) Have used local media releases for this purpose | ||
| x | e) Have done so by other means (how?) FSA: in info packs on banking |
|
| x | f) Responding only to questions by constituents |
This survey is organized by the Ontario Public Interest Research Groups at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa (OPIRG-Carleton, OPIRG-Ottawa), Ottawa Chapter of the Council of Canadians, and Flora Community Web, with support from the Alliance for Public Accountability