Domestic legislation

Event: Conference on Corporate Accountability in Canada’s Extractive Industries Operating Abroad - November 3, 2009

Up to the Challenge: a Multi-Stakeholder Conference on Corporate Accountability in Canada’s Extractive Industries Operating Abroad

One-day, Multi-stakeholder Conference on Corporate Accountability in Canada’s Extractive Industries Operating Abroad, co-sponsored by the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability and the Mining Association of Canada.


When: Tuesday November 3, 2009, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Where: Holiday Inn, Plaza la Chaudière, 2 rue Montcalm, Gatineau, Québec
Who should attend: Federal Government officials, civil society and industry representatives, academics and students, Members of Parliament and media
Simultaneous interpretation will be available for the morning plenary and for one afternoon panel / discussion group.
Lunch will be provided on site.
To register: Conference Registration is closed. Pre-registration is required.
For further information: contact Jean Christie

Issue Brief: Official interpretations of the “ODA Accountability Act” – one year later - September 2009

Introduction
The Official Development Assistance (ODA) Accountability Act (ODA Act) came into force on June 28, 2008. This now legally requires Canadian ODA to contribute to poverty reduction, take into account the perspectives of the poor, and be consistent with international human rights standards. Over the past year, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC), and Finance Canada have been developing plans on how to interpret and implement the Act. To date, only Finance Canada has held a consultation on the Act, with neither CIDA nor FAC disclosing its plans. Consultations must be held before September 30, 2009, when CIDA is expected to release the first annual report on the Act.

Annual Report Cards on Canada and the IFIs

Since 2005, the Halifax Initiative Coalition has produced an annual Report Card on the Department of Finance's Annual Report to Parliament on the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act - namely on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Past Report Cards have found that Finance's Reports provide some good background information on the history, mandate and operations of the institutions. However, they fall short on providing the qualitative and quantitative information necessary to provide Canadians with an adequate picture of Canada's relations with the Bank and the Fund, and how our participation within these institutions is achieving our development and foreign policy goals. As this report is, effectively, the only means by which Parliament and the public is officially informed of Canada's relations with these institutions, the lack of information creates a serious gap in public accountability and awareness.

Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability - About

Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability

The CNCA unites environmental and human rights NGOs, faith groups, labour unions, and research and solidarity groups across Canada, including the Halifax Initiative. CNCA members seek the adoption of federal legislation that establishes mandatory corporate accountability standards for Canadian extractive companies that operate abroad. The provision of government support to Canadian corporations should be conditional on compliance with these standards.

Press Responses: April 1, 2009

Corporate Social Responsibility Rules for Mining Industry Blasted
by Lee Berthiaume
        
Published Apr. 1, 2009      

The Conservative government has rejected joint civil society-private sector calls to tie diplomatic and economic support for Canadian oil, gas and mining companies operating in developing countries to socially responsible conduct abroad.

Monthly Issue Update - April 30, 2009

G-20 response to financial crisis - money, money, money
All eyes were on the Group of 20 (G-20) this month as they met in London and announced a whopping $1.1 trillion to stimulate the global economy. The impressive figure and various commitments on tax havens, regulation, and boosting the IMF’s lending capacity (See “Just the Facts”) grabbed the headlines and saw stock markets respond positively the next day.

Monthly Issue Update: March 31, 2009

Government response on CSR and extractives: Fool’s Gold
For two years, parliamentarians, civil society, industry and the Canadian public have waited for the Government of Canada to issue a response to the ground-breaking consensus report from the National Roundtables on Extractive Industries (see IU March 2007). Against great odds, that process produced a consensus document, endorsed by industry and civil society, on a program of policy reform regarding the overseas operations of Canadian extractive companies that would make Canada a leader on the world stage. 

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