Dear Editor,

I am writing to share my concern about Stephen Harper's continued disregard for our democratic rights.

It is not enough that he has dismantled Canada's environmental protection mechanisms and is hell bent on promoting the tar sands, pipelines and oil tanker traffic. With the proposed Canada China Foreign Investment Protection Agreement (FIPA) treaty, he seems poised to sign one of the biggest trade deals since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) without any parliamentary debate or vote.

FIPA would give foreign corporations sweeping powers to sue Canadian governments for implementing common sense environmental protections, investing in Canadian jobs, or for stopping the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline. In addition, these lawsuits would happen in secret tribunals outside Canadian legal channels. It would also tie Canada for 31 years.

It is time for Canadians to raise our voices against Harper so that we can preserve our democratic rights and by extension our beautiful nature, which is being pillaged for so-called short term gains without any regard for current or future generations.

Louise Taylor

Pemberton