Summary of some country cases, their social context, and delays in debt relief:

Country

We Can Stop the Hot Money Casino

CANADA'S EXPOSURE TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES - March 31, 2000
 
 
 
 

Here's a brief summary of events since our last update :

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT - MOTION? WHAT MOTION? 
The federal government has made no formal effort to act on the endorsement given to it by Canadians and is, in fact, actively downplaying the Tobin tax motion. Although Finance Minister Paul Martin assured Halifax Initiative representatives, at a meeting in Washington in April, that he had raised the Tobin tax informally with Finance Ministers, actions in Canada and abroad reveals a failure of commitment and a betrayal of the democratic process.

Congratulations to everyone who made the historic passage of the Tobin tax motion possible!   

For full pdf, go here.

HOUSE OF COMMONS VOTE RESULTS - MARCH 23, 1999

MOTION M-239

That, in the opinion of this House, the government should enact a tax on financial transactions in concert with the international community.

YEAS

February 4, 1999
The second hour of debate on the Tobin tax motion was held in the House of Comons on Feb 3. The Bloc Quebecois has proposed that the motion be amended by removing the words "enact a tax on financial transactions" and replacing them with the following: "promote the implementation of a tax aimed at discouraging speculation on fluctuations in the exchange rate." The language is weaker but not seriously so, and if it brings Bloc support (44seats), is worthwhile.

My overall impression of the debate is that some MPs are ill-informed or are being deliberately misleading in their arguments. The taxes hurt  'average' Canadians" myth seems to be the favorite we must debunk as we argue in favour of the tax.

Thursday, October 16, 1997