This petition calls on the federal government to reject a new trade deal with Ecuador, cancel existing investment treaties that allow corporations to sue Canada in international courts, and commit to removing these corporate lawsuit powers from all future agreements.
If successful, Canada would no longer be exposed to billion-dollar lawsuits from foreign corporations when it passes environmental, health, or Indigenous rights protections — but it would also limit tools Canadian companies use to protect investments abroad.
Sponsored by Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona) · New Democratic Party
Read the petition text
Investor–State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) allows foreign investors to challenge regulations before international arbitration tribunals outside Canada’s courts, giving corporations powers to challenge legislation passed by elected governments;
ISDS can threaten protections addressing climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, resource extraction and public health. Costly claims may discourage governments from adopting strong protections, undermining present and future generations’ right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment;
These risks are especially serious for Indigenous peoples. Disputes involving mining, pipeline, energy or forestry projects may affect Indigenous lands, waters and livelihoods. Policies must uphold treaty rights, the duty to consult and the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP);
The recently signed Canada-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement is a particularly clear example of an agreement that could violate Indigenous rights and environmental protection;
Most Canadian companies filing ISDS cases abroad operate in the mining and fossil-fuel sectors;
Governments must remain free to regulate the economy, protect workers and communities, safeguard the environment, honour Indigenous rights and uphold Canadian courts’ authority without fear of financial penalties; and
As more countries turn away from or limit ISDS, Canada risks becoming an outlier.
We, the undersigned,residents of Canada, call upon theGovernment of Canadato: 1. Reject legislation implementing the Canada–Ecuador Free Trade Agreement; 2. Terminate Canada’s bilateral investment treaties that contain ISDS; 3. Commit to not signing future agreements or contracts, or enacting laws, that contain ISDS; and 4. Support a future multilateral treaty for a just transition away from fossil fuels with provisions to end ISDS.