Official Correspondence
 | Below is a chronological list of all the official correspondence sent by the Halifax Initiative Coalition to various national and international financials institutions, like Export Development Canada and the World Bank, or to various Canadian government officials related to a range of different issues. You can also browse this correspondence by issue (Conditionality and SAPs; Debt; Canadian government Roundtables on the Extractives and CSR; Financing for Development and Tobin Tax; human rights; or by Project) and institution (EDC and ECAs; IMF; Other Institutions (G8, G20, UN, etc.); and World Bank, as per below. |
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Letter to Prime Minister Harper re CSO priorities for 2010 G8 meeting - June 16, 2009
The 2010 Canadian G8 Civil Society Coordinating Committee, whose members include Canadian international development, environmental, humanitarian, human rights, health and AIDS service organizations, faith-based groups and trade unions, ask that you use your influence at the upcoming Italian G8 Summit, and Canada’s G8 summit in 2010, to address the urgent needs of countries in the global South who are disproportionately affected by the global financial, economic and food crises and climate change.
Letter to Prime Minister Harper re forthcoming UN Conference on the global financial crisis - May 12, 2009
From June 1-3 the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development will take place in New York. This letter urges the Prime Minister to give this conference the political weight it deserves and to participate as our country’s Head of Government.
Letter to Prime Minister Harper re forthcoming G-20 meeting on the global financial crisis - 26 March, 2009
As the Prime Minister heads to London for the next meeting on the global financial crisis, this letter urges Canadian leadership on four key issues related to the impact of the financial crisis on poor countries that we feel have been neglected up until now: ending global poverty and inequality, ensuring decent jobs and public services for all, using stimulus packages to build a Green Economy and tackle climate change, democratizing the governance of the global economy.
Comments to Finance on its consultation under the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Accountability Act - December 22, 2008
This is the first occasion under which any Department has consulted with groups in relation to the Official Development Assistance Accountability Act. Accordingly, the Halifax Initiative and CCIC have chosen to provide both extensive feedback on the consultation process and to provide some broad principles for Finance Canada to consider in terms of how Canadian policy at the IFIs might be made consistent with the Act. This submission also complements two Briefing Notes that CCIC will submit independently and should be read taking these Briefing Notes into account.
Statement on the proposed “Global Summit” to reform the international financial system - October 29, 2008
In recent weeks, leaders worldwide have recognized the deficiencies of the existing system and the need to meet to address a broader set of proposals to reform the global financial system and its institutions. The G20 are now set to meet in Washington DC on November 15 to begin the discussions. We are deeply concerned that the proposed meetings will be carried out in a rushed and non-inclusive manner, and as a result, will not address the comprehensive range of changes needed, nor fairly allocate their burden.
Response from Minister Cannon re Financing for Development - November 27, 2008
This letter responds to the HI letter on issues to be addressed at the upcoming Financing for Development meeting in Doha, Qatar, and lays out the Canadian position on a range of topics.
Letter to Minister Emerson re Financing for Development - October 10, 2008
In November, civil society organizations (CSOs) and government leaders from around the world will convene in Doha, Qatar to review progress on the 2002 Monterrey Financing for Development (FfD) agenda, and plot a course for the years ahead. We, the undersigned Canadian CSOs are writing to urge the Canadian government to support a strong and specific outcome document for action and for change in Doha that puts effective development, poverty eradication, international human rights, gender equality, decent work, and environmental sustainability at the fore.
Response from the World Bank re governance - October 26, 2008
This letter talks about the World Bank governance reform plans that have been agreed to and and what the Bank is doing on the issue.
CSO letter to WB President regarding World Bank governance reform - August 28, 2008
This letter calls for significant reform of World Bank governance, including parity of voice between developed, developing and transition countries, within an agreed time frame, as well as a transparent, merit-based election process for Bank president.
Letter to Minister Flaherty re cancelling Haiti's bi-lateral and multi-lateral debt
This letter from 28 groups urges all G8 Governments, as officials head to Japan for the G8 Finance Minister's meeting, to support immediate multilateral and bilateral debt cancellation for Haiti or a moratorium on all debt service payments until such a time as the debt is cancelled.
Response from EDC on Tenke project - June 5, 2008
EDC thanks us for raising concerns around the project, and indicates that should they choose to support it, it would only be if they were fully compliant with their policies.
Letter to Eric Siegel, President and CEO, Export Development Canada, regarding the Tenke Fungurume concession in the DRC
The Mining Contract Review Commission, an inter-ministerial body established by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to review numerous contracts that were awarded to mining companies between 1996 and 2005, recently released its assessment. The Commission concludes that the mining contract governing the Tenke Fungurume project is illegal and calls for its annulment. EDC is currently considering backing the project. This letter calls on EDC to immediately dismiss the application for support.
Letter to Minister Flaherty re peer review under the OECD Common Approaches - March 28, 2008
This letter urges Minister Flaherty to support the adoption, by the OECD Export Credit Group, of a peer review system regarding implementation of the 2007 OECD Revised Council Recommendation on Common Approaches on the Environment and Officially Supported Export Credits. The letter includes a proposal for a peer review system developed by ECA-Watch.
Letter to UN Secretary-General on external debt - February 29, 2008
At the end of this year, governments of the world will meet in Doha, Qatar to evaluate progress in implementing the Monterrey Consensus. One of the critical elements of this consensus is the issue of external debt and its role in financing for development. This letter highlights the critical policy issues around external debt today.
Response from Minister Flaherty on changes to the Annual Report - December 20, 2007
This letter from the Minister - the first response that the Halifax Initiative has received from the Department of Finance in almost two years - provides an overview of the changes that the Department has made to the Annual Report to Parliament on the Bretton Woods [World Bank and IMF] and Related Agreements Act.
Second Letter from EDC to HI re. "Dirty Business, Dirty Practices" - November 5, 2007
This letter provides further details on how EDC assesses the level of public consultation in projects, and its broad process for addressing human rights. It responds to a series of questions highlighted in our response to EDC's initial letter on "Dirty Business, Dirty Practices". See correspondence below for details.
Press release - Monday, November 5, 2007
Letter to the OECD - ECA-Watch withdraws from consultations. This letter, press release and statement all express frustration with the consultation process at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and its Export Credit Group (ECG), to engage in substantive exchanges of views on issues raised by ECA-Watch (a watchdog group) over the years. Citing the growing and urgent credibility crisis with the Common Approaches, ECA-Watch announced that until country members are committed to a dialogue process that works, its members, including the Halifax Initiative, have elected to no longer engage in these annual meetings of the ECG with civil society.
Response to EDC - September 17, 2007
This letter responds to concerns identified by Export Development Canada regarding the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability report, "Dirty Business, Dirty Practices: How the Federal Government Supports Canadian Mining, Oil and Gas Companies Abroad". The EDC letter was addressed to the Halifax Initiative.
Letter from EDC to HI re. "Dirty Business, Dirty Practices" - July 16, 2007
This letter argues that "Dirty Business, Dirty Practices" contains two factual innacuracies with respect to EDC's policies and practices in the area of consultations with affected communities and human rights.
Acquittal of Congolese Soldiers and Canadian Mining Employee in War Crimes Trial Criticized - July 20, 2007
This statement from Congolese and international NGOs brings attention to the trial and acquittal of nine Congolese soldiers for war crimes, and three employees of Anvil Mining for complicity in war crimes in relation to the deaths of at least 73 civilians in Kilwa, DRC in October 2004. It was the first time in the DRC that foreign employees of a multinational company – including one Canadian – have been charged with complicity in war crimes. Citing obstructions, irregularities, and political interference, NGO observers claim the trial failed to conform to international legal standards. Included is a link to the full report.
