March 17, 2003

Mr. Fraser Reilly-King and Co-signatories
NGO Working Group on the EDC
Halifax Initiative
104-153 Chapel Street
Ottawa, Ontario
KIN 1H5

Dear Mr. Reilly-King and Co-signatories:

Thank you for your e-mail and letters of January 17, 2003, with which you enclosed a copy of the report entitled Human Rights Dammed Off at Three Gorges, concerning the Three Gorges Hydroelectric Project in China. I am also replying on behalf of my colleague the Minister for International Trade, the Honourable Pierre S. Pettigrew.

We have taken note of the allegations in your report and will continue to monitor developments. In its human rights dialogue with China, Canada works to promote improved governance and democratic development. We raise concerns about the human rights situation with the Chinese leadership at every available opportunity.

February 5, 2003

Mr. Fraser Reilly-King
National Coordinator
The NGO Working Group on the EDC
Halifax Initiative
153 Chapel Street, Suite 104
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 1H5

Dear Mr. Reilly-King:

This is in reply to your letter of January 17, 2003, co-signed by the International Rivers Network in which you express concerns about our support for the Three Gorges Hydroelectric Project in China.

January 17, 2003

The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew
Minister of International Trade
125 Sussex Drive
Tower B, 5th Floor
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0G2
Fax: (613) 944-2509/0455

cc.  The Honourable Bill Graham
      Minister of Foreign Affairs
      Ottawa

      Mr. Ian Gillespie
      President and CEO, Export Development Canada
      Ottawa
 
Re: Human rights violations in the Three Gorges Project

Dear Minister Pettigrew:

We would like to bring to your attention the massive human rights violations entailed in the resettlement program for the Three Gorges Project in China. Canada is involved in this project through export credit guarantees granted by Export Development Canada.

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Ms. Melanie Quevillon
Coordinator
NGO Working Group on the EDC
153 Chapel Street, Suite 104
Ottawa, ON  K1N 1H5

Dear Ms. Quevillon

Thank you for your letter of May 9, 2002, in which you expressed concern about the involvement of Export Development Canada (EDC) in the Ralco Hydroelectric Dam project in Chile.

Export credit agencies (ECAs) are public agencies that provide government backed loans and insurance to corporations.

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.

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