THE BAD NEWS:

THE MULTILATERAL AGREEMENT ON INVESTMENT, or MAI, is a proposal by governments to eliminate public control over large corporations within our countries, without the informed consent of the people. The MAI, if approved by Members of Parliament, would cripple our parliament's ability to pass laws in the public interest. We would still vote, but democracy would be reduced to a hollow shell. (See reverse for more information.)

THE MAI IS BEING NEGOTIATED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by the 29 governments of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (including Canada, the U.S.A., Europe and others). Contrary to media reports, the MAI is not dead, but has simply shifted to one-on-one negotiations with each member country.

THE GOOD NEWS:

WE CAN HOLD THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE ON THE MAI. We do this by changing the way we approach authorities. Rather than simply urging or demanding "no" to the MAI, we also ask "why?" Public decision makers will never say, "you are not entitled to an answer." MPs cannot claim they do not serve their constituents. Instead, if a proposal is indefensible, authorities will often attempt deception (for instance, avoid or delay answering, downplay or deny our concerns, or discredit our sources). Our response is to embarrass them by publicizing their deception and repeating simple, reasonable questions that can be asked by more and more people.

PLEASE WRITE YOUR MP. Your MP is responsible for informing you about the MAI proposal. Attached you will find a sample letter. Please rewrite it by hand (or computer). You should get best results asking the questions just as they are. (For instance, "who would benefit from the MAI" rather than "who will benefit," which would imply the MAI is a done deal.) You can add more information, but avoid the temptation to argue. You are not obliged to defend your opposition to the MAI. It is only reasonable to expect our MPs to properly justify their government's own proposal.

WE CAN HAVE ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT. Through our relentless calls for public answering, we can create the government we really want. The Ottawa-based Alliance for Public Accountability has drafted accountability principles which can be applied to all areas of public service.

WANT MORE INFORMATION? For a list of MPs, for background on the MAI or accountability, or our "MAI? Tell Us Why" stickers, visit our website http://mai.flora.org/. Or contact:

The MAI-Not! Project, OPIRG- Carleton
(Ontario Public Interest Research Group at Carleton University)
326 UniCentre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Carleton University, Ottawa ON K1S 5B6
(613) 520-2757; fax (613) 520-3989, opirg@carleton.ca 

"It takes much less struggle to retain a freedom possessed than it does to regain a freedom which has been lost." (late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Learned Hand) "When I feel the heat, I see the light." (A U.S. Senator)

Please send copies to Minister Sergio Marchi (you can send it via email fax link: remote- printer.Sergio_Marchi@16139474452.iddd.tpc.int) and to OPIRG-Carleton (opirg@carleton.ca)

Dear [your MP]:

I have been made aware of the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), and its serious implications. This despite the government's attempts to keep this proposal out of the public eye, and to downplay its significance.

The MAI would cripple our Parliament's ability to pass laws in the public interest. It appears that, through the MAI, the federal government would permit transnational corporations to sue for compensation though an unaccountable MAI tribunal, if any of our core-policy laws in sectors such as labour, welfare, health and environmental protection, at any level of government, ran counter to the aims of corporations in the MAI provisions.

Once again (as was the case with NAFTA) Canadians aren't being told the answers to important questions about the MAI. Yet it's a matter of basic civic competence that we do not proceed with any major proposal unless we have sufficient assurance that it's safe to proceed. Furthermore, if Members of Parliament are not reasonably informed about how the MAI would affect Canadians, it's hard to see now they can give informed consent.

So I would like to know if you think it reasonable, as my elected representative for [your riding], that you will:

1. Inform yourself about the implications of the MAI for Canadians, to a standard reasonable for Canadians to expect of a Member of Parliament.
2. Tell us what you see as the outcomes of the MAI, i.e. please tell us:
1. who would benefit from each major MAI provision, how, and why they should, and
2. who would bear what costs and risks from them, and why they should, for both the short term and long term.
3. Tell us what you think is a reasonable standard for public consultation, for something as important as the MAI. In particular, do you agree with Sergio Marchi, Minister of International Trade, that public hearings across Canada are not needed? The Minister has allowed only a few little-publicized hearings on the MAI.

I would appreciate you giving an hour to meet with me and other concerned citizens on this matter as soon as possible. We will call you to follow up.

My phone, fax and email [as applicable] is/are: ...

Sincerely,

[Your name] [Your address]

cc. The Hon. Sergio Marchi, Minister for International Trade;
Ontario Public Interest Research Group at Carleton University, Ottawa