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In the House of Commons yesterday, NDP Trade Critic Bill Blaikie asked International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew whether or not he will support a request by a Canadian NGO to participate in an ongoing NAFTA case. Pettigrew said he is undecided and Blaikie is urging Canadians to encourage the Trade Minister to stand up for the right of citizens and NGOs to participate in NAFTA cases.

In the case, a Canadian firm called Methanex, has launched a billion dollar lawsuit against the US under chapter 11 of NAFTA for profits lost as a result of California’s ban on MTBE, a gasoline additive with suspected carcinogenic properties. Until now, such NAFTA cases have been conducted behind

closed doors with no input from the public. But in the Methanex case, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has asked the NAFTA panel to open up the process by hearing the concerns and arguments of citizens and public interest groups. The NAFTA panel has indicated it is seriously considering this request, and it has given Canada has until October 13 to register its position. The NAFTA panel’s decision will set an important precedent for how future hearings are conducted. And it appears that precedent is what may be worrying the government. In response to Blaikie’s question in the House of Commons, Pettigrew said, "Our officials are in discussions with people at justice and we also have to see with the government of Mexico and the government of the United States what sort of precedent it would create. But I certainly would want to commend the contribution that the IISD has been making on that file and we will advise the House as to what our government will decide after consultations with our trade partners." Blaikie is encouraging people to send Pettigrew a message by email or fax as soon as possible that they want the hearings to be open to the Canadian public.