What has changed since last May? The CBC suggests that it has much to do with Mr. Harper`s impending visit to China: “The decision to ratify the long-delayed agreement comes just months before the Prime Minister leaves for his third visit to China. The Prime Minister will return to Beijing in November for the APEC summit. China pushed Canada to ratify FIPA, and it would probably have been a controversial topic during that trip if the Harper government had not yet acted. Worse still, ratification comes as the Hupacasath First Nation`s legal dispute over the constitutionality of the agreement is still being considered by the Federal Court of Appeal, with a decision on the case expected daily. As early as May, Trade Minister Ed Fast answered questions about the reasons for the delay by stating that the reason FIPA was not yet over was Hupacasath`s challenge: “I think you know very well that disputes over this agreement are currently underway. I will not comment on the litigation myself, because it is a matter before the courts, and I do not speak on issues before the courts. But I`m going to say it. Our government is committed to putting this agreement in place. Breaking News: Harper, Phillies come to an agreement: t.co/fCHLTdfb4J pic.twitter.com/PCYVTx5j2u Strasburg did all this with Boras in the lead.
Harper decided otherwise. After being put into circulation by the Nationals — and forced to continue when he wanted to return — he persisted in finding a sustainable home. Reports suggest the Dodgers were willing to give him a shorter contract with a higher annual average. Now imagine this framework: Harper signs for the four years, $45 million that the Dodgers say they have offered. He won the World Series in 2020, his second season, was stable in years three and four, while the sport was strained by rough offseasons and a new collective bargaining agreement was hammered. Then he returned to the market at the age of 29, all behind him. But the deeply undemocratic way in which the Harper government decided to finally ratify the agreement is equally disturbing. Although he has had the opportunity for two years since the signing of FIPA, there has been only one hour of discussion in the Committee on Trade, no vote in Parliament and no public consultations on the agreement. The Phillies were confident about their chances of signing Harper earlier this week because they thought he would accept the biggest deal on the table, and they believed they had it. But their optimism subsided and frustration intensified on Wednesday as negotiations intensified and news spread that the Giants had increased their offer. With The ratification of the agreement by China, signed, sealed and delivered for a long time (and really, if you can convince another government to sign an agreement so badly in your favor, wouldn`t you ratify as quickly as possible?) Canada`s ratification of the agreement means it will enter into force on October 1. And as soon as that happens, we will be locked into FIPA conditions for at least 31 years.
That`s right, even if a new government is formed after next year`s election and they decide to leave FIPA, the next seven Canadian governments will be bound by the consequences of Harper`s bad negotiations.