Dear Editor,

As soon as this week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper could commit Canada to the most sweeping trade deal in a generation, and this comes without a single debate or vote.

Are you aware that, if the Canada-China FIPA passes, it will pave the way for China's massive companies to spend billions buying out Canada's natural resource companies?

What is Harper doing to us? Under this new deal, China's companies can sue Canadian governments, federal, provincial or municipal, in secret tribunals outside the Canadian court system, if those governments do anything that would limit the company's profits in Canada.

One example that could arise very quickly is, if this deal passes and the Enbridge pipeline does not go through due to mounting opposition from Canadians, China could launch a lawsuit against our country.

This trade deal would tie our hands for 31 years, making it possible for China's companies to challenge Canadian laws that create jobs, protect our environment, and build healthy communities with billion-dollar lawsuits that would cost us, the taxpayers, dearly.

Canada has already spent hundreds of millions on penalties from lawsuits launched under The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and currently, Belgium is facing a $3 billion suit from one of China's companies because of a similar foreign investor agreement.

Why would Harper lock us into this secretive and extreme deal? The answer can only be short-term gains for long-term pain! Harper is selling us out, and Canadians better pull their heads out of the sand, but quick.

If you have never spoken up about your right to protect our county, as a Canadian, now is the time.

This is urgent - don't wait. Canadians and Chinese alike have a right to have a say in the decisions that will shape our lives.

Contact your your provincial and federal government leaders to voice your opinion. Make sure everyone knows what is going on so we have a chance to stop this in its tracks.

Dana Lacroix, Maple Ridge