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Chinese trade pact criticized

Chinese trade pact criticized Liz Hanson, leader of the NDP Opposition, wants to know if Premier Darrell Pasloski learned about Canada's proposed trade agreement with China on his various trips abroad, and if he withheld that information from Yukoners.

Liz Hanson, leader of the NDP Opposition, wants to know if Premier Darrell Pasloski learned about Canada’s proposed trade agreement with China on his various trips abroad, and if he withheld that information from Yukoners.

Pasloski dodged the question, asked yesterday at the first day of the fall sitting of the legislature, and instead emphasized the importance of foreign investment, and reassured her that any companies operating in the Yukon must abide by the territory’s rules.

An international trade expert has warned that the proposed Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement could put the rights of foreign companies ahead of the rights of Yukon citizens and, notably, First Nation governments.

The agreement was tabled in the House of Commons on Sept. 26, and is scheduled for ratification on Nov. 1.

Hanson suggested that if the government has done internal reviews that show the benefits of the proposed legislation to the Yukon, they might consider sharing that information with the public.

“By its silence on this issue, the Yukon Party government appears to want to give away our rights, Yukoners’ rights, to Chinese state investors,” said Hanson.