I was disturbed to discover that our government had approved a deal to let China own part of the tar sands.

This deal is bad for Canada, and it was announced late in the day on Friday in the hopes that no one would notice.

But there's something that would make this deal worse.

The China/Canada trade deal (FIPA) is awaiting cabinet's approval, and if that happens Chinese companies operating in Canada will be able to sue our government over potential lost profits due to common-sense legislation, local buying practices and job creation.

The results will be determined in secret tribunals, and we may never know that taxpayer dollars will be paid out to these foreign companies due to our efforts to keep our air and water clean, and our local economy viable.

Canada has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties due to similar parts of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and is currently being sued by a U.S. corporation because Quebec decided to put a temporary ban on fracking so it can study its controversial health and safety impacts.

Please, contact your member of Parliament and ask them where they stand - let's keep Canada and our taxes in the hands of Canadians.

Erin Newell Coquitlam