TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 03/01/14 -- Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie spoke today at a conference in Toronto focused on exploring ways to generate sustainable economic growth through responsible resource development. During his remarks he also announced Canada's support for a range of new projects and initiatives that will help developing countries maximize the benefits of their resource wealth.
"Creating sustainable economic growth is our most effective tool in eradicating poverty around the world. We need to leverage private sector involvement to generate jobs, growth, and prosperity in developing countries. We need to look at new approaches to solving age-old problems and focus on areas where we can have the greatest impact," said Minister Paradis. "Canada is recognized as a world leader in responsible resource development. By increasing innovation and involving the private sector, we are leveraging Canadian expertise to create results for those in need. We are helping countries transition from development partners to self-sustaining and prosperous trading partners able to provide for their own citizens."
This is the second year the Government of Canada and the World Economic Forum have co-hosted a conference on development in the extractive resources sector. Participants, including representatives from donor and recipient countries, as well as high-level representatives from multilateral organizations, civil society organizations, and industry, explored innovative approaches to promoting mining investment as way to stimulate local economic development.
"Mining has long been a major activity in Latin America and the Caribbean, but our countries face the growing challenge of developing their resources in a responsible, transparent, and sustainable manner," said Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the Inter-American Development Bank. "In Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development we have found a partner that shares our region's concerns."
In separate remarks made at a session on the Socio-Economic Impact of Tuberculosis in the Mining Sector, Minister Paradis re-affirmed Canada's commitment to address the global challenge of tuberculosis in mining communities. As a leader in responsible extractive resource management and tuberculosis care and control, Canada sees the opportunity for the public and private sectors to work together through innovative partnerships to address this issue.
Announcements (additional information in backgrounder)
-- $10 million to support the Transparency Trust Fund
-- $10 million over five years to support to the African Legal Support
Facility through Canada's Extractives Cooperation for Enhanced Economic
Development (EXCEED) Program
-- $1.2 million over two years to support the Transparency in the
Extractive Sector Project
-- $1.1 million over one year to promote economic growth in the extractive
sector through members of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining,
Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development
-- Just under $500,000 in funding over one year to support the Clinton
Health Access Initiative
Quick Facts
-- Exports of oil and minerals from Africa, Asia, and Central and South
America in 2012 were worth more than US$1.35 trillion-more than 15 times
the amount of official development assistance provided to these same
regions in that year. Current trends suggest that the importance of the
sector will increase as exploration for minerals, oil, and gas continues
in developing countries.
-- Canada is a lead supporter of the Extractive Industries Transparency
Initiative (EITI), which seeks to increase transparency in the oil, gas,
and mining sectors through the implementation of standards related to
the publication and verification of company tax, royalty payments, and
other government revenues. At present, 25 countries have been deemed
"EITI-compliant" (including Mozambique, Peru, and Tanzania), with
another 16 countries in the process of implementing the EITI.
-- In January 2013, Prime Minister Harper announced Canada's support to the
African Mineral Development Centre. The centre delivers guidance and
policy advice to African countries on how to manage their extractive
sectors responsibly and transparently.
-- In June 2013, Prime Minister Harper announced that Canada would lead G-8
Partnerships on Transparency in the Extractive Sector in Tanzania and
Peru. Through these partnerships, Canada works with governments, civil
society, and industry to increase transparency and strengthen governance
in the extractive sector to help ensure the citizens of Tanzania and
Peru derive the maximum benefit from their natural resources.
Related Products
-- Backgrounder - Canada a Leader in Leveraging Private Sector Investment
to Stimulate Economic Growth, Create Jobs and Eradicate Poverty
-- Speech - Address by Minister Paradis: Canada-WEF Conference on
Extractives and Sustainable Development
Associated Links
-- Natural Resources Management -- World Economic Forum
Backgrounder
Canada a Leader in Leveraging Private Sector Investment to Stimulate Economic Growth, Create Jobs and Eradicate Poverty
Canada continues to show leadership in helping countries transition from development partners to self-sustaining and prosperous trading partners able to provide for their own citizens. Through accountable and responsible resource development, countries can create jobs, growth, and shared prosperity, helping lift millions out of poverty.
Canada is providing support for a range of new projects and initiatives that will help developing countries maximize the benefits of their natural resource wealth.
Transparency Trust Fund ($10 million)
Canada's support to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will help improve extractives sector governance in Latin America. Programming resulting from Canada's support will help countries increase transparency in the extractive resources sector related to oversight and the publication and verification of company tax, royalty payments, and other government revenues.
African Legal Support Facility ($10 million over five years)
The facility will help at least twenty African governments by providing legal expertise and capacity-building assistance to negotiate and review complex contracts with mining, oil, and gas companies.
This is the first initiative undertaken as part of the Extractives Cooperation for Enhanced Economic Development (EXCEED) Program. The program, announced by Minister Paradis on February 3, 2014, is a new funding mechanism to expand Canada's involvement in areas of high development impact in the extractive resources sector in Africa.
Indonesia Transparency in the Extractive Sector Project ($1.2 million over two years)
Canada's support will help the Government of Indonesia achieve compliance and build momentum to remain in compliance with the global standard set by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). The EITI seeks to increase transparency in the oil, gas, and mining sectors through the implementation of standards related to the publication and verification of company tax, royalty payments, and other government revenues. At present, 25 countries have been deemed "EITI-compliant" (including Mozambique, Peru, and Tanzania), with another 16 countries in the process of implementing the EITI.
This assistance targeting Indonesia complements the $20 million disbursed over four years in Canada's support to the EITI and the Extractive Industries Technical Advisory Facility in developing countries, announced by Prime Minister Harper on October 14, 2012.
Promoting Economic Growth in the Extractive Sector through members of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development ($1.1 million over one year)
Canada's support to the International Institute for Sustainable Development will help developing countries strengthen their mineral development regimes, and pilots an integrated approach to mining sector planning that increases water, energy, and food security.
Canada's Support to the Clinton Health Access Initiative ($460,598 over one year)
Canada will support an analysis of the impact of tuberculosis in the mining sector on communities of origin in Southern Africa. In addition, this analysis will identify and estimate the cost of various options for public-private efforts that address the challenge of tuberculosis in affected communities.
Contacts:
Margaux Stastny
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Development
and Minister for La Francophonie
819-953-6238
margaux.stastny@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD)
819-953-6534
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @DFATD_Dev
