verbena-19

Free Event- Monday September 11, 2006
1:00 pm to 9 pm
OISE / University of Toronto

Rooms 2-213 and 2-214
Ontario Institute in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto 252
Bloor Street West, near St. George subway stop
For more info: Bern Jagunos 416-231-7680 ext 4077 or Jim Davis 416-463-5312 ext 238


MANDATORY NOT VOLUNTARY

REGULATE CANADIAN MINING, OIL AND GAS COMPANIES OVERSEAS Parallel events to roundtable on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Canadian Extractive Sector in Developing Countries.

GlobalAware Photo Exhibit - Room 2-213 1pm to 6pm Canadian mining oil and gas operations in Ecuador, Ghana, Peru, Philippines and Venezuela

Screening of Short Documentary Films - Room 2-213 2pm to 6;30 pm

2:00 pm - Sipakapa No se Vende/Sipakapa is Not for Sale (60 min, Glamis Gold,
> Guatemala) 3:10 pm - All That Glitters (28 min, TVI Pacific in the
> Philippines) 4:00 pm - U.A.I.L. Go Back (22 min. Alcan in India) 4:40
> pm - Between Midnight and the Rooster's Crow (60 min, EnCana Corp. in
> Ecuador) 5:50 pm - Dongo Kundu (20 Min, Tiomin Resources in Kenya)
> 6:20 pm - Gold, Gold Look who is Benefiting (20 min, Bonte Gold Mines,
> Folden Star Resources in Ghana)

> Presentation and Discussion with Featured Speakers Room 2-214 6:30 pm
> to 9 pm
> . Chair: Bern Jagunos
> . Introduction: Carlos Torres (Chile)
> . Tin Maung Htoo (Burma)
> . Wanyee Kinuthia / Tigi Obanda (Kenya)
> . Ulises Garcia (Peru)
> . Vicky Tauli-Corpuz (Philippines)
>
> Free Event- Monday September 11, 2006
> 1:00 pm to 9 pm
> OISE / University of Toronto
> Rooms 2-213 and 2-214
> Ontario Institute in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto 252
> Bloor Street West, near St. George subway stop

> For more info: Bern Jagunos 416-231-7680 ext 4077 or Jim Davis
> 416-463-5312 ext 238
> http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/Issues_CNCA

Endorsed by a network of Toronto based organizations for corporate responsibility on the occasion of the Canadian government's September 12-14 roundtable meeting on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Canadian Extractive Sector in Developing Countries.


MOVING BEYOND VOLUNTARISM: CANADA AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ABROAD


THE PROBLEM

Canadian mining, oil and gas companies have been implicated in well-documented cases of human rights violations and environmental disasters abroad. These violations by Canadian companies include toxic dumping, the destruction of protected areas, forcible displacement of indigenous peoples, and threats and intimidation of local communities.

This is not a case of a few bad apples: Canadian extractive companies have been implicated in human rights abuses and environmental disasters in more than thirty countries.

The Government offers both political assistance and financial support to Canadian extractive companies that operate abroad. Yet the Government has no regulatory mechanisms to ensure that these companies observe international human rights and environmental standards - standards that have been adopted by Canada.

The voluntary approach to corporate accountability championed by the Canadian Government is problematic for several reasons. Most voluntary codes lack independent monitoring and verification systems, complaints tools and enforcement mechanisms. Moreover, the voluntary approach excludes binding mechanisms to hold companies accountable when there is evidence of environmental and/or human rights violations
associated with their overseas activities.



THE SOLUTION

The Government should:

. Require Canadian companies operating internationally to meet clearly defined corporate accountability, international human rights and environmental standards, as a precondition for both financial and political assistance.

. Develop legislation to hold Canadian companies and their directors accountable in Canada when found complicit in human rights abuses and environmental destruction abroad.

. Develop robust Canadian-based monitoring, verification and compliance mechanisms to ensure that Canadian companies operating internationally meet clearly defined corporate accountability, international human rights and environmental standards.

. Promote the inclusion of human rights standards in World Bank policies and condition private sector lending on compliance with international human rights.