Presentation to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on the Financial Transactions Tax

Innovative mechanisms for financing development, and in particular the Financial Transactions Tax

by Fraser Reilly-King, Coordinator, Halifax Initiative Coalition
May 6, 2010

My name is Fraser Reilly-King and I am the Coordinator of the Halifax Initiative, a coalition of eighteen development, environment, faith-based, human rights and labour organizations. We focus on international finance issues, in particular with respect to the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and export credit agencies.

Civil society organizations demand reform of World Bank Group lending to private corporations

Submission by Civil Society Organizations to the International Finance Corporation

Commenting on The Social and Environmental Sustainability Policy, Performance Standards and Disclosure Policy

11 March 2010
 

Introduction

The undersigned civil society organizations have prepared this joint submission to provide an overview of many of our concerns related to IFC’s Policy on Social and Environmental Sustainability, the Performance Standards, related guidance documents, and the Disclosure Policy. We believe these concerns should be explored and addressed further through IFC’s current consultation and review process.

Presentation to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on the G8 / G20 in 2010

Presentation regarding the principles for guiding a more democratic, representative and accountable G-20

by Fraser Reilly-King, Coordinator, Halifax Initiative Coalition
October 29, 2009

Thank you for inviting us to appear before the Standing Committee to discuss issues related to next year’s Group of Eight and Group of Twenty meeting in Huntsville, Ontario in June.

Presentation to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on Bill C-300

Presentation regarding Bill C-300 - An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries

Karyn Keenan, Program Officer, Halifax Initiative
October 22, 2009

The Halifax Initiative is a coalition of human rights, environmental, faith-based, development and labour organizations. Our objective is to transform public international financial institutions to achieve poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and the full realization of universal human rights.

My work focuses on the operations of public institutions that provide support to the private sector, in particular the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group and Export Development Canada. The latter, a Crown corporation, is Canada’s export credit agency and will be the focus of my comments this morning.

The G8 and G20 Summits of 2010: An Agenda for Global Development - Executive Summary

Executive Summary
2010 will be a decisive year for Canada, and for the world.  The deadline for meeting the world’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is only five years away.   Our decisions on economic reform and climate change will determine the success of world’s efforts to reduce poverty and reverse dangerous global warming for the next generation and beyond.  As host of the next G8 and G20 Summits, Canada can make the difference between relegating these aspirations to a distant hope in an uncertain future and confirming the possibility of achieving these goals in our lifetime.  The consequences of reneging on our promises are unthinkable for the millions around the world looking towards a new model of globalization that is socially responsible, economically sustainable and environmentally just.

The G8 and G20 2010 Summits - An Agenda for Global Development

A Focus on Poverty, Economic Reform and Climate Change
In 2010 Canada will play host to the world.  The Vancouver Olympics and the G8 and G20 Summits in Muskoka and Toronto will draw the attention of millions to Canada, its geography, its values, policies and practices. If 2008 was the year of China, then 2010 can be the year of Canada.  Around the globe, Canadians proudly sport the Canadian flag in traveling as a symbol of Canadian democracy, openness and concern for human rights.  Yet our great international achievements of the past—Canadian contributions to the establishment of international peacekeeping, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Ottawa Treaty to Ban Landmines and the International Criminal Court—are today clouded by concerns about Canada’s current role in climate change negotiations, Afghanistan, reform of the global economy and addressing global poverty.

Export Development Canada Environmental Policy Review Submission - August 26, 2009

The Halifax Initiative is a coalition of human rights, environmental, faith-based, development and labour organizations. Our objective is to transform the international financial institutions to achieve poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and the full realization of universal human rights.

The Halifax Initiative supports the review of Export Development Canada’s Environmental Policy and disclosure practices, and is grateful for the opportunity to provide input to the review process.

1. Project environmental and social standards
a. Compliance

Comments to Finance on its consultation under the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Accountability Act - December 22, 2008

December 22, 2008

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

Dear Minister Flaherty:

Re: 2008 consultation with respect to the “Official Development Assistance Accountability Act”

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