Send a Letter to the Prime Minister for G8

PDF www.halifaxinitiative.org/updir/G8_letter_to_PM_updated.pdf

Rt. Hon. Paul Martin, M.P., P.C.

House of Commons

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Martin,

I support the leadership role Canada has played in moving the G7 to accept the principle of 100% multilateral debt cancellation for the world's poorest countries. However, much more remains to be done. I call on you to take leadership in resolving the two major shortcomings in the proposal when you and the other G8 leaders meet in Scotland this July for your annual Summit.

First, 100% cancellation of multilateral debt must be extended beyond the 18 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) currently considered eligible. While 20 more countries might qualify there are 62 countries that need full debt remission to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

Secondly, countries must still apply harsh IMF and World Bank adjustment measures that may prolong rather than end poverty before they qualify for debt cancellation. More than 130,000 Africans die every week from preventable causes, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and contaminated water. Yet Sub-Saharan African countries continue to pay about US$12 billion a year servicing debts that are illegitimate because this money is urgently needed for health care, clean water and sanitation.

Given this ongoing human tragedy how can creditors collect even one dollar in debt service from these impoverished countries?

At the upcoming Gleneagles Summit we call on you to lead a movement to:

' EXTEND the agreement for 100% cancellation of the debts owed to multilateral financial institutions to all impoverished countries that need debt cancellation in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

' ENSURE that countries are free to implement their own national development strategies by ending IMF and World Bank Structural Adjustment Programs;

' GUARANTEE adequate financing for impoverished countries including through the dedication of 0.7% of Gross National Income to Official Development Assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Cc. Hon. Ralph Goodale, M.P., P.C.,

Minister of Finance

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0A6