Government of Canada policies and positions
Structural adjustment programs in Canada
Most Canadians would be surprised to learn that economists from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annually visit Canada to dispense advice. We tend to think of the IMF as an institution that prescribes strong medicine, known as Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs), only to less developed countries. In fact our governments regularly follow the same bitter prescriptions. |
ECA and IFI -funded projects
This page links to information concerning a number of projects on which we have worked, in solidarity with local communities. In some cases, the projects rely on World Bank funding. In others they involve Canadian companies that may be seeking, or have secured, financial support from Export Development Canada (EDC). Sometimes they involve both. Regardless of the source of funding, in all cases, communities have contacted us because they are concerned about the significant adverse environmental, social and human rights impacts of the projects.
Canadian organizations welcome first step toward extractive industry transparency
In this June 13 press release, civil society welcomes the government's commitment to adopt binding corporate disclosure requirements but calls for further steps in the development of a comprehensive accountability framework regarding the overseas operations of Canadian extractive companies.
Issue Update - October 31, 2012
This month we examine 'odious investment' - Mongolia Undermined; (Mis)Investment in Agriculture; More than Bricks and Mortar; and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
Issue Update, June 2012
Climate finance: the World Bank, Export Development Canada and the Canadian government. Plus Rio+20 postmortem.
Halifax Initiative Testimony, Foreign Affairs Committee, May 30, 2012
Presentation concerning the role of the private sector in international development with a focus on new CIDA programming in support of the extractive sector.
Desperately Seeking Sanction: Canadian Extractive Companies and their Public Partners
Article prepared for the 'Global Capital, Global Rights' workshop convened by SFU and UBC. The text discusses civil society efforts in support of Bill C-300, legislation that sought to create accountability mechanisms regarding the provision of government support to Canadian extractive companies that operate overseas.
Monthly Issue Update - January 31, 2012
Energy poverty, climate change and the World Bank; Durban postmortem.
Chilean and Argentine organizations question EDC due diligence
In this letter to Export Development Canada and the U.S. Export-Import Bank, Chilean and Argentine organizations express harsh criticisms regarding the public agencies' due diligence processes concerning Barrick Gold's application for support for Pascua Lama.