Elizabeth May congratulates Jim Balsillie for his strong stance against the Trans-Pacific Partnership

(OTTAWA) November 9, 2015 –Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party and MP (Saanich-Gulf Islands), commended Jim Balsillie for speaking out against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), after reviewing the treaty’s final text.

“I congratulate Mr. Balsillie for voicing his strong opposition against the TPP,” said Ms. May. “I am in total agreement with his position that trade negotiators have profoundly failed Canadians and our future innovators. For example, the TPP would impose intellectual property standards, set by the U.S., which would be extremely damaging to Canadian entrepreneurs.”

In addition, Paul Manly, Green Party International Trade Critic, expressed concern about the TPP as an investor-state agreement that allows foreign corporations to launch suits against Canada in private arbitrations.

“It’s clear that the TPP could cost Canada hundreds of billions of dollars and is a threat to Canada’s sovereignty,” said Mr. Manly. “We will work to ensure there is an open and transparent debate in Parliament before any vote to reject or ratify the TPP agreement is taken.”

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