Governance Reports and Analysis

Policy Brief: Canada at the World Bank and IMF – Watching from the sidelines? - July 2008

In 2007, Finance Canada substantially improved both the content and format of its annual "Report on Operations under the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act". Now that the government has finally disclosed its positions on issues, and its priorities looking forward, HI is finally in a position to critique some of the issues covered in these reports. This policy brief addresses some of the most important issues covered in the report, most of which have been a traditional focus of our work.

Report Card on Finance Canada's 2007 Annual Report to Parliament on the BWIs (April 2008)

For the past four years the Halifax Initiative Coalition has produced report cards on the annual reports to Parliament on the World Bank and IMF. In general, the 2007 Annual Report marks a substantial improvement over the 2005 and 2006 annual reports, both in format and in particular, in content. In all, the new medium term framework does a much better job of articulating a more coherent and consistent government strategy for the Bank and Fund, and providing benchmarks against which to evaluate the government’s performance in the coming years. Next year’s annual report would do well to include indicators against which to measure, more clearly, success in meeting these goals.
Grade: B+

Report Card on Finance Canada's 2006 Annual Report to Parliament on the BWIs (April 2007)

For the past three years the Halifax Initiative Coalition has produced report cards on the annual reports to Parliament on the World Bank and IMF. In general, we are encouraged by the enhanced content and format of this year’s annual report. It is a step in the right direction and Finance Canada should be commended for taking this “good faith” initiative. However, the failure to include any clear and systematic indication of goals, objectives and actions for the coming year is still a major shortcoming. As a result, the report provides no benchmarks against which to evaluate the Government of Canada’s performance in next year’s report or to register changing objectives.

Grade: B-

Report - Analysis of the Finance Report on BWIs - 2005 (June 2006)

Since 2005, the Halifax Initiative Coalition has produced an annual Report Card on the Department of Finance's Annual Report to Parliament on the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act - namely on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Past Report Cards have found that Finance's Reports provide some good background information on the history, mandate and operations of the institutions. However, they fall short on providing the qualitative and quantitative information necessary to provide Canadians with an adequate picture of Canada's relations with the Bank and the Fund, and how our participation within these institutions is achieving our development and foreign policy goals. As this report is, effectively, the only means by which Parliament and the public is officially informed of Canada's relations with these institutions, the lack of information creates a serious gap in public accountability and awareness.

Grade: D

Report - Analysis of G8 Debt Deal (June 2005)

KAIROS and Halifax Initiative Coalition provide short analysis of the details of the G8 Finance Minister's debt deal announced on June 11, 2005.

Report - Analysis of the Finance Report on BWIs - 2004 (April 2005)

The 2004 report provides some good background information on the history, mandate and operations of the institutions. It falls short, however, of providing the qualitative and quantitative information necessary to provide Canadians with an adequate picture of Canada's relations with them. As this report is, effectively, the only means by which Parliament and the public is officially informed of Canada's relations with these institutions, the lack of information creates a serious gap in public accountability and awareness.

Review and Analysis of EDC's Disclosure Policy (March 2005)

This Report was prepared by the Sierra Legal Defense Fund on behalf of the Halifax Initiative Coalition. The Review looks at Export Development Canada's record on transparency in the context of the Access to Information Act, and national and international standards for transparency, and practice among other export credit agencies (ECAs) in terms of revealing project and environmental information. The report also tackles the issues of commercial confidentiality, and how to protect company concerns while responding to public demands for greater transparency and accountability from Crown Corps.

Civil Society Report Card on EDC (October 2004)

Issued to coincide with the Auditor General's review of EDC's environmental policy, this Report Card grades EDC on the progress they have made over the past two years in implementing their disclosure, environment and compliance policies. The Report Card acknowledges the improvements that EDC has made on the environment, but flunks the Crown Corporation on transparency.

Who's Minding the Store? (October 2004)

Halifax Initiative's new paper, "Who's Minding the Store? Legislator Oversight of the Bretton Woods Institutions" examines to what extent national legislatures maintain democratic oversight of the World Bank and IMF. The survey reveals that legislators are inadequately aware, unevenly informed and largely not consulted on issues related to the institutions. The democratic link to bind citizens and institutional decision-makers is therefore fragile, at best.

At the Table or in the Kitchen? (September 2004)

The Halifax Initiative Coalition and the Canadian Council for International Co-operation have co-authored the report "At the Table or in the Kitchen? CIDA's New Aid Strategies, Developing Country Ownership and Donor Conditionality," which seeks to understand the implications of three converging elements in CIDA's implementation of its 2002 policy the agency's reliance on PRSPs to define country priorities for poverty reduction, its support for program based approaches to deliver increasing aid budgets for poverty reduction, and its increased coordination with the World Bank and other major donors in these PBAs.

Impoverishing a Continent: The World Bank and the IMF in Africa (July 2004)

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are the two most powerful institutions in global trade and finance. Since 1980, the United States government which dominates both bodies has used them to economically subjugate the developing world. The World Bank and the IMF have forced Third World countries to open their economies to Western penetration and increase exports of primary goods to wealthy nations. These steps amongst others have multiplied profits for Western multinational corporations while subjecting Third World countries to horrendous levels of poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, illiteracy and economic decline. The region worst affected has been Africa.

The G8, Globalization and Human Security

"The G8, Globalization and Human Security - a Resource Package and Facilitator's Guide" This package uses the lens of the G8 through which to examine issues of globalization and human security because of the central role the G8 plays in economics and global governance. This package was produced by the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation with the support of the Halifax Initiative Coalition.

Water, Land, Labour: The Impacts of Forced Privatization in Vulnerable Communities (June 2003)

"Water, Land, and Labour: The Impacts of Forced Privatization in Vulnerable Communities" The World Bank and the IMF have used their considerable power to force countries to privatize natural and public resources. This report documents some of the impacts, ranging from reduced access to essential services, loss of jobs and increased corruption.

Finding Real Solutions to Unsustainable Debt (February 2003)

Report - Finding Real Solutions to Unsustainable Debt [PDF format]

The Global Environment Facility: The First Ten Years - Growing Pains or Inherent Flaws? (August 2002)

The report offers a succinct overview of the GEF's first ten years, examining some of its history, structure and governance, the conflicting expectations of its participants and the implications of the central role of the World Bank. Co-released with Environmental Defense (August 2003). [ PDF Format]

Marketing the Earth: The World Bank and Sustainable Development (August 2002)

This report, released at the time of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, documents the World Bank's approach to sustainable development in specific sectors addressed in Agenda 21. [PDF format]

G8 Counter Conference, the G6B People's Summit (July 2002)

Final Report on the G6B People's Summit [PDF format ]

Environmental Assessment and EDC: The Shock of the Possible (March 2001)

Submitted as part of EDC's consultations on the environment, this report makes a case for placing EDC under the provisions of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

G20 Counter Conference: Democratize it (October 2000)

In October 2000, the Halifax Initiative organized a three day event on the eve of the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in Montreal to discuss alternative proposals for the global financial system. The first day comprised of a film festival and Teach-In. An NGO strategy session was held for two days to explore ways the global financial system could contribute to the eradication of poverty and environment sustainability.

EDC and Disclosure: Letting the Sun Shine In (July 2000)

A submission to EDC consultations on disclosure, this report makes a case for increasing disclosure and bringing EDC under the Access to Information Act.

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