CASA updates, May 2001

In Canada, CASA is being undertaken by a Steering Committee of non-governmental organizations from a number of sectors, including labour, development and anti-poverty organizations. As Canada does not receive structural adjustment loans from international financial institutions, the Steering Committee in Canada chose to focus on the 1995 budget, in which the federal government pushed through many structural adjustment reforms, reforms recommended to Canada by the IMF in its Article IV consultations. A first national forum was held, December, 1998 from which four research areas were chosen:

• Removal of Subsidies on its impacts on Small Agricultural Producers

• Labour Market Reform and impacts on Seasonal Fisheries and Forest Workers

• Trade Liberalization and impacts on Garment Workers

• Reduction of Public Expenditure on Social Service Delivery and impacts on the poor

Quantitative and participatory research were undertaken over the following twelve months. Eight regional dialogues were held with the economically disadvantaged to discuss the fourth research area. A second national forum was then held in January 2000 to discuss the results of this research. Four sectoral consultations were held to address the other research areas. The research remains to be synthesized and published.