executive-summary-ottawa-expert-meeting-fr-643d1def1b86e0bd.pdf

This executive summary details an expert meeting held on June 13, 2018, in Ottawa, Canada, organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). The meeting brought together representatives from the Canadian government, academics, and civil society to discuss the reform of international investment law and the revision of Canada's model Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA). The discussions focused on transitioning from a traditional investment protection model to one that promotes sustainable development and addresses the negative impacts of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms.

• Participants argued that traditional investment treaties, established in the post-colonial period of the 1950s, primarily protect foreign investments but lack empirical evidence supporting their role in promoting investment flows. They proposed shifting toward a model that supports investment for sustainable development.
• Academics and civil society experts claimed that current investment treaties and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms can hinder the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They asserted that these frameworks exacerbate power imbalances, lead to human rights violations—specifically regarding Indigenous Peoples—worsen gender inequality, damage natural environments, and obstruct climate change action.
• The Canadian government expressed a commitment to a progressive trade and investment agenda, including stricter provisions for labor, the environment, gender equality, Indigenous Peoples, and small and medium-sized enterprises. The government also discussed evolving its approach to ISDS, moving from traditional arbitration toward a permanent investment court and appeal mechanism, as seen in the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union.
• Proposed solutions for reforming investment treaties and ISDS include conducting cost-benefit and impact analyses (covering environmental, social, and human rights risks) before negotiations, shifting the focus of treaties to sustainable development, and balancing investor rights with obligations regarding corruption, taxation, and human rights. Regarding dispute settlement, options ranged from the total elimination of ISDS to the establishment of state-to-state settlement or more inclusive, transparent mechanisms.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). executive-summary-ottawa-expert-meeting-fr-643d1def1b86e0bd.pdf. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/executive-summary-ottawa-expert-meeting-fr.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. executive-summary-ottawa-expert-meeting-fr-643d1def1b86e0bd.pdf. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/executive-summary-ottawa-expert-meeting-fr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=executive-summary-ottawa-expert-meeting-fr-643d1def1b86e0bd.pdf |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/executive-summary-ottawa-expert-meeting-fr.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndexecutivesummaryottawaexpertmeetingfr643d1def1b86e0bdpdf, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{executive-summary-ottawa-expert-meeting-fr-643d1def1b86e0bd.pdf}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/executive-summary-ottawa-expert-meeting-fr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }