Last April the governments of B.C. and Alberta signed an agreement called the Trade, Investment and Labor Mobility Agreement (TILMA). There was no public notice, no legislation introduced to give it legitimacy and no debate in the legislature. It grants sweeping investor rights that could compromise provincial health, safety and environmental standards. TILMA once introduced April 1, 2007 could lead to uncontrolled development by big business at the expense of forest, farm land, eco sensitve areas and heritage sites. The TILMA if enacted could directly oppose Smart Growth initiatives enacted in many Canadian communities towards environmental preservation and sustainable development. The Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives find that risks associated with the agreement greatly exceed any economic benefits. Of particular concern are provisions that allow corporations to sue governments over any measure that “restricts or impairs” their investment, with up to $5 million available for compensation for each alleged violation. This means that local governments would have little power to represent the people of their communites without fear of penalty.
