Government accountability bill returns to the House
On March 3, the Governor General will open a new session of Parliament, ending the recess created when the Harper government prorogued the previous session in December. All legislation that was under consideration at that time was extinguished, with the exception of private members’ bills, which return to the House, unscathed. These bills begin anew at whichever stage of the legislative process they had reached before the plug was pulled on Parliament.

Summary:
The world urgently needs democratic and global decision-making that puts the international economic and financial system at the service of equity, economic and social justice, human rights, and environmental sustainability. A forum recognized as legitimate and credible by all will be far more effective in addressing today’s critical global issues.

In this vein, the G-20 can only be the first step. To achieve the broader goal of democratic governance, a global leaders’ forum must include the effective participation of low income countries. The immediate inclusion of the African Union, followed perhaps by other regional bodies, would be a step towards a more comprehensive constituency-based system. It must respect democratic principles of inclusion, representation, transparency and accountability, and must provide avenues for hearing citizens’ voices. In the long term, such a forum needs to transition towards a democratic and global leaders summit process within the framework of the United Nations.

Want to know more about the FTT? Read the Halifax Initiative Newsletter (January 2010)
JUST THE FACTS  - Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) - What? Who? Why? How?

See who has already signed on to a previous international version of this statement

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The Honourable James M. Flaherty
Minister of Finance
Department of Finance Canada
140 O'Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G5,

Dear Minister Flaherty,

As economists from across the world, we call on you to implement a financial transaction tax (FTT).

POSITION SUMMARY
The Halifax Initiative is seeking a highly motivated FULL-TIME Program Officer – G8 /G20 Summits for a four month contract in Ottawa, with opportunity for extension, to: 1) further develop the Coalition’s policy positions around international finance issues, and advocate these positions in meetings with key decision-makers; 2) develop materials for public consumption on these issues; 3) develop, implement and manage education and outreach activities in the lead-up to the Summits; 4) coordinate activities with national and international partners ahead of the Summits.  The successful candidate will be responsible for the G8 / G20 program and all related activities.

Be part of the biggest bank job in history... The Robin Hood Tax (or financial transactions tax, as it is otherwise known) is a tiny tax on bankers that would raise billions to tackle poverty and climate change, at home and abroad. By taking an average of 0.05% from speculative banking transactions, hundreds of billions of dollars could be raised every year, while helping to curb some of the speculative activities of day traders, whose practices exacerbated the current crisis. That’s easily enough to pay for climate change, help countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and get our economy back on track. Join the campaign at http://www.robinhood.co.uk

Three ways to pay for aid commitments
EMBASSY – Canada’s Foreign Policy Newspaper

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Stephen Harper’s announcement that child and maternal health will be the signature theme of June’s G8 meeting is certainly timely.

Every day 1,400 women die of pregnancy-related causes.  Every day 24,000 children under the age of five die of what are largely preventable causes. Progress on improving child and maternal health is the furthest off-track of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) UN member states committed to in 2000. This focus gives MDGs four and five, on child and maternal health, the push they need ahead of September’s United Nations High Level Meeting and ten year review of the MDGs.

But funding the initiative comes during difficult days – a global crisis and a budget deficit. Resources are tight.

Rethinking the international financial system during a time of crisis

Introduction
On October 19 and 20, 2009, the Halifax Initiative held a conference, co-hosted by The North South Institute, the University of Ottawa and the School of International Development and Global Studies (SIDGS), entitled "What’s Missing in the Response to the Global Financial Crisis?" The meeting brought together experts from a range of backgrounds to analyze the challenges facing the global economy, discuss the ways in which the international community has responded to the current financial crisis, and identify shortcomings in these responses.

Hon. James Flaherty  Minister of Finance Department of Finance Canada 140 O’Connor Street  Ottawa, ON  K1A 0G5

Hon. Lawrence Cannon Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada 125 Sussex Drive     Ottawa, ON  K1A 0G2

1st February 2010

Ref: Immediate debt cancellation for Haiti

Dear Ministers Flaherty and Cannon,

We are writing to commend the government’s efforts to date to mobilise emergency assistance for disaster relief in Haiti and for speaking to the urgency and importance of debt cancellation for the country. The call to cancel Haiti’s remaining multilateral debt, including last week’s highly concessional $102 million loan from the IMF, benefits from a strong Canadian voice. We urge you to keep demonstrating such leadership in the government’s interventions at the Bretton Woods Institutions, and at Haiti’s largest multilateral creditor, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

CSOs push for Common Approaches revamp
Members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are currently reviewing a 2007 Council Recommendation regarding export credit agency (ECA) operations. The Recommendation on Common Approaches on the Environment and Officially Supported Export Credits (Common Approaches) is a “gentlemen’s agreement” that seeks to establish a level playing field regarding ECA environmental practice. CSOs argue that the Recommendation’s impact is undermined by the lack of effective accountability mechanisms to ensure consistent and effective application by member governments.