April 8, 2005

2005FIN153718

Mr. John Mihevc and co-signatories
Chair
Halifax initiative Coalition
104-153 Chapel Street
Ottawa, ON KIN 1H5

Dear Mr. Mihevc and co-signatories:

Thank you for your correspondence of January 28, 2005 regarding debt relief, additional financing and other development issues. I apologize for the delay of my reply.

PDF Letter available here

Version PDF française disponible ici

January 28, 2005

The Honourable Ralph Goodale M.P., P.C.,
Minister of Finance
140 O'Connor Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G5
Fax: 995-5176

RE: Canadian CSOs Call for Leadership to Secure Full and Unconditional Cancellation of Poor Country Debts

Dear Minister Goodale,

The next few months offer an historic opportunity for Canada to take leadership among the G7 Finance Ministers to consider genuine and permanent solutions to the problems of debt and development, especially as they affect Africa.

Calling for a "Made in Canada" Proposal Percent Debt Cancellation
By Michael Bassett

This weekend Finance Minister Ralph Goodale will join his counterparts from 20 developed, emerging and developing countries at the regular G20 Finance Ministers meeting. Prime Minister Paul Martin created this grouping of countries in 1999. It stands as an example of the Canadian leadership on the international stage that Mr. Martin has often spoken of, but little delivered since becoming Prime Minister last year.

SEP 28 2004
 
Mr. John Mihevc Chair
Halifax Initiative Coalition
104-153 Chapel Street
Ottawa, Ontario
KIN 1H5

Dear Mr. Mihevc:

Thank you for your letter in which you raised the issues of International Development Association (IDA) governance, debt relief and the independent review of the World Bank's role in extractive industries. With respect to the latter issue, I understand that my officials have been corresponding with the Halifax Initiative on your concerns.

Sep 24 2004

Mr. John Mihevc Chair

Halifax Initiative Coalition

104-153 Chapel Street Ottawa, Ontario

KIN 1H5

Dear Mr. Mihevc:

PDF Version of letter available here

August 10, 2004

The Honourable Ralph Goodale
Minister of Finance
140 O'Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G5
Fax: 995-5176

RE: Cancellation of the NGO/PRESS Pass for the Fall Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund

Dear Minister Goodale,

We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the decision to exclude civil society from participation in the Fall meetings of the 60th anniversary of the Bretton Woods institution by canceling the NGO/PRESS pass. By canceling the NGO/PRESS pass the Bretton Woods institutions are restriction of the access of legitimate alternative voices and denying the hard fought rights of citizens in a democracy to an open and free press.

July 6, 2004

The Honourable Ralph Goodale
Minister of Finance
L'Esplanade Laurier, East Tower, 21st Floor
140 O'Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G5

RE: Request for Canada to call for an extension of EIR Comment Period

Dear Minister Goodale,

On June 18, the World Bank Group Management released Draft Management Responses to the World Bank Group Extractive Industries Review, the OED/OEG/OEU Evaluation of Extractive Industries, and the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman Report. We appreciate that the World Bank Board requested the release of these documents for public comments.

Unfortunately, these drafts were available only in English during almost half of the allotted comment period. Ironically, one of the key recommendations in all three reports is to continue to improve public participation and access to information on various different levels.

Submitted to Department of Finance and CIDA before World Bank discussions at Fall 2003 meetings on Enhancing Voice and Participation of Developing Countries.

The Case for a New and Improved International Development Association

This discussion paper proposes that the International Development Association of the World Bank be transformed into an independent Secretariat that would act as a mechanism for disbursing development financing to the poorest countries. IDA-eligible countries could approach the IDA Secretariat for programme/project grant financing, in cooperation, if they choose, with one or more implementing agencies. Implementing agencies could include UN agencies, civil society and the multilateral development banks, dependent on priorities.