April 22nd, 2003
 
The Hon. David Anderson
Minister of the Environment
10 Wellington Street
Hull, QC   K1A 0H3
Fax: (819) 953-3457
Re: ECA Reform at the G8 Environment Summit in Angers, France
Dear Minister Anderson 
This year, as in past years, the NGO Working Group on the Export Development Canada (EDC), a Canadian coalition of development, environment, faith, labour, and rights groups, is writing to urge you to reaffirm your strong commitment to the reform of export credit agencies (ECAs) in the final communiqué of the G8 Environment Summit in Angers, France, on April 25th-27th.
 

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.

January 7, 2003

Ms. Pamela Foster
Co-ordinator Halifax Initiative
153 Chapel Street, Suite 104 Ottawa ON
KIN 1H5

Dear Ms. Foster:

This refers to your letter of October 23 to EDC President and CEO, Ian Gillespie, regarding possible Export Development Canada (EDC) support for an expansion of INCO's mining activity in Indonesia.  Mr. Gillespie has asked me to reply on his behalf.

We are not familiar with any expansion plans by INCO in Indonesia. We will, however, take your comments into consideration should that circumstance change. Any possible involvement by EDC would first have to fully address the Environmental Review Directive (ERD) requirements for projects of this nature. At EDC, we take our adherence to Corporate Social Responsibility very seriously and ensure that our policies in this area are rigorously applied.

Click here for full report in pdf

This report documents seven projects being pursued by Canadian companies abroad that will have negative environmental, social and human rights impacts. It includes a more detailed critique of EDC's environment and disclosure policies.

December 12, 2002

Mr. James Wolfensohn
President
The World Bank Group
1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433 U.S.A.

Dear Mr. Wolfensohn,

We are writing to express dismay at the recent Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman report on the MIGA guarantee of the Bulyanhulu gold mine and to request your urgent intervention.

The CAO is a mechanism that non-governmental organizations have pushed hard to establish. Your personal support for the initiative played a major role in ensuring that the CAO was established. As all parties have observed, the CAO's effectiveness rests on the respect and trust it enjoys amongst the public: integrity, transparency, even¬handedness and thoroughness are thus critical to all aspects of its work.

Mr. Ian Gillespie
President
Export Development Canada
151 O'Connor
Ottawa Ontario
KlA 1K3

23 October, 2002

Dear Mr. Gillespie,

It is with grave concern that we write you today regarding potential EDC support for expanding projects of the International Nickel Company (INCO) in Indonesia.

As you may be aware, the history of INCO's mining activity in Indonesia is not characterized by consensual relations with affected communities nor by respect for basic environmental standards.

September 13, 2002

Ms. Pamela Foster

Coordinator

Halifax Initiative

153 Chapel Street, Suite 104

Ottawa. Ontario

KIN 1H5

Dear Ms. Foster:

August 14, 2002

Ms. Pamela Foster
Coordinator
Halifax Initiative
153 Chapel Street, Suite 104
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 1H5

Dear Ms. Foster,

This is in reply to your letter of July 11, 2002, regarding possible Export Development Canada (EDC) support for the Cernovoda Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Two.