in september 2012, the government of canada foreign investment promotion and protection agreement signed a trade agreement with chinese investors giving them control over major assets such as coal on its 232,000-hectare territory. it comes into effect when it has been ratified by both sides. the hupacasath first nations "community argued in federal court in june that the federal government is required to consult first nations under section 35 of the constitution act, which provides constitutional protection to the aboriginal and treaty rights of aboriginal peoples in canada."