Open letter to the G7 finance ministers - June 1, 2002

Open letter to the G7 finance ministers

When the G7 heads of government met in Halifax in June 1995, leaders made a commitment to a series of measures to reform the Bretton Woods Institutions. The G7 called for the provision of multi-lateral debt relief for the poorest countries, the promotion of environmentally sustainable development and the reduction of poverty.

Seven years later, these promises are unfulfilled. The crisis of legitimacy confronting the World Bank and the IMF at the 50th anniversary of their creation led to the G7 to take up the reform of the international financial institutions (IFIs) in Halifax. As the G7 finance ministers return to Halifax, this question of legitimacy continues to haunt the institutions.

Letter to EDC President Re: Export-Import Bank - May 31, 2002

May 31, 2002
 
Mr. Ian Gillespie
President and Chief Executive Officer
Export Development Canada
151 O’Connor
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1K3

Dear Mr. Gillespie:

I am writing you today on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Export Development Canada to bring to your attention the recent policy developments at the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) of the United States with regard to supporting renewable energy projects and to ask EDC to adopt Ex-Im’s approach to this important sector.

Letter to EDC President - May 29, 2002

May 29, 2002

Mr. Ian Gillespie
President and Chief Executive Officer
Export Development Canada
151 O’Connor
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1K3

Dear Mr. Gillespie:

I am writing you today on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Export Development Canada to ask if Export Development Canada (EDC) is considering supporting the following projects:

1.   Alumysa aluminum smelter in southern Chile (Noranda)

2.   Tambo Grande gold mine in Peru (Manhattan Minerals)

3.   Rosia Montana Gold Corporation gold mine in Romania (80% owned by Gabriel Resources Canada)

Letter to Trade Minister Re: Kidnapping - May 9, 2002

May 9, 2002

The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew
Minister for International Trade
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario   K1A 0G2

Dear Minister Pettigrew:

I am writing you today on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Export Development Canada to denounce the recent attempted kidnapping of indigenous community leader Sara Imilmaqui in Chile and demand EDC to withdraw its support of the Ralco dam project until the voice of the indigenous Mapuche people is heard.

Letter to Paul Martin Re: Tobin tax - April 30, 2002

Hon. Paul Martin, Minister of Finance
House of Commons
Centre Block, 309-S
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

April 30, 2002

Dear Mr. Martin,

On behalf of the Halifax Initiative, I write seeking clarification as to whether and why the Government of Canada no longer supports the Tobin tax. When questioned by Lorne Nystrom in the House, John McCallum, Secretary of State for Financial Institutions said that he "would commend the government for ceasing to support a Tobin tax because I think it is a pretty bad tax." (House of Commons Hansard, 21 March 2002).

Letter to Environment Minister - April 8, 2002

Monday April 8, 2002

The Honourable David Anderson
Minister of the Environment
10 Wellington Street
Hull, Québec   K1A 0H3
Environment Canada
Fax:  819-953-3457

Dear Minister Anderson:

On behalf of the Export Credit Agency Watch (ECA Watch) campaign, an international coalition of non-governmental organizations from 35 different countries, I would like to respectfully request your consideration in incorporating the following language on export credit agencies in the Banff Ministerial Statement on the World Summit on Sustainable Development.  The Statement has come to our attention in the form of Revision 2, written April 3, 2002.

Letter to PM Re: Financing for Development Conference - March 14, 2002

The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien

The following letter was sent to the Prime Minister with copies to the Finance Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister on March 14, 2002. It was signed by leaders representing over 100 Canadian development, social justice, labour and faith organizations.

The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Centre Block, 309-S
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

March 14, 2002

Dear Prime Minister,

We are writing to you, as representatives of Canadian non-governmental organizations, to express our dismay at the proposed outcomes of the UN Financing for Development process and Canada’s role in the negotiations leading to it. We call urgently for renewed leadership on the road to Kananaskis.

Letter to PM Re: Financing for Development Conference - March 14, 2002

The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien

The following letter was sent to the Prime Minister with copies to the Finance Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister on March 14, 2002. It was signed by leaders representing over 100 Canadian development, social justice, labour and faith organizations.

The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Centre Block, 309-S
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

March 14, 2002

Dear Prime Minister,

We are writing to you, as representatives of Canadian non-governmental organizations, to express our dismay at the proposed outcomes of the UN Financing for Development process and Canada’s role in the negotiations leading to it. We call urgently for renewed leadership on the road to Kananaskis.

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