Foreign Affairs committee  Well, it's curious that you began by talking about governance issues and lack of redress in the countries in which these companies operate. We've just had quite a bit on Haiti, and the line coming from Canada--the correct one, by the way--is that Haiti must take control, that thi

Foreign Affairs committee  With the access.... People have access under the Equator Principles and the IFC. I have colleagues working at the IFC with whom I speak regularly. I was speaking with them yesterday about the cases they are investigating, about the resources they're putting in. To say that peop

Foreign Affairs committee  Sorry.

Foreign Affairs committee  Like all think tanks, research centres in the Americas, we get our funding from a variety of sources. We compete for the same sources and we are funded in the same manner as the Brookings Institution, Fedesarrollo in Colombia, and Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales. We

Foreign Affairs committee  Incorrectly analyzed and stated. First off, the situation on the ground with Talisman was indeed more complicated than could be summed up in simple testimony in front of this committee, I think, in the few minutes we'll have. But on the word “genocide” , I would argue that to

Foreign Affairs committee  No, that is not what I am saying. Let me try this again. There's a situation where companies are investing and are using CSR practice, are trying to improve the community, are engaging with consultations, and are engaging social investments. These are the types of companies we

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you very much. It goes without saying that it is a pleasure to meet the members of this committee again. Last time, we discussed Haiti, I believe. Since then, things have moved a little. It's indeed a pleasure to be here. I'd like to thank the committee for the invitat

International Trade committee  It's interesting to note that Colombia was the first country in this hemisphere to invite the UN High Commission for Human Rights to set up permanent offices. They've been there for close to a decade and a half. Also, the International Labour Organization has been invited by Colo

International Trade committee  I do not have figures with me on union membership, but those are easily available from sources in Colombia, from the Escuela Nacional Sindical, the Colombian version of the CLC. I've seen reports of recent declines in unionism, but nothing substantial. It would seem to be cyclic

International Trade committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, I would like to thank the committee and yourself for inviting me to share some ideas on the free trade agreement between Canada and Colombia. I've been before the committee two or three times before, so I will actually keep my remarks at or un

International Trade committee  Canada has a reputation for being very forward thinking and our companies for doing very well with corporate social responsibility; it's not an issue of being Canadian or of having a golden heart but of economic survival. Companies are finding a competitive advantage in dealing w

International Trade committee  Thank you, gentlemen.

International Trade committee  I'm following your path to get to the answer.

International Trade committee  The last issue is NAFTA and how we've done with NAFTA. The Mexicans are in a unique position that only we share with them vis-à-vis NAFTA: so much of our trade depended on the United States. Had the Mexicans not moved to expand trade elsewhere, we can only imagine that the recent

International Trade committee  We already have that in place with the UNHCR and with the institutes that are in Colombia. I would suggest that we use them and talk to them before designing something and sending it down to Colombia without consultation with them. Work with the Colombians. Work with the indepe