We wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as part of an international effort by 630 groups from around the world to draw world leaders' attention to the threat of investor lawsuits under the grossly unjust investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions of most international trade and investment agreements, seeking compensation for investors for emergency public health and wellbeing measures undertaken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments must be able to act in the public interest without fear of being sued in secret courts that often fail to recognise public health and well-being (including environmental protection), much less governments' democratic obligations to protect them.
The letter, including a detailed annex of policy recommendations, is attached. The full list of signatories can be found here.