Svend Robinson, MP

October 4, 2001

“CIDA must make public its assessment of the impact of the dam and should not allow the project to continue if it does not meet Canadian environmental standards.”

Hon. Maria Minna, PC MP
Minister for International Cooperation
256 Confederation Building
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Dear Maria,

I am writing to express my concern over CIDA’s involvement with Fortis, Inc. and its proposal to dam the Macal River in Belize. In an area such as the Macal River Valley with a number of rare species it is essential that the proper environmental checks are carried out before such a project is approved. CIDA must make public its assessment of the impact of the dam and should not allow the project to continue if it does not meet Canadian environmental standards. AMEC is not a disinterested party in the proposed scheme and its impact assessments must be published so that they are open to public scrutiny. In the light of the statement by the Natural History Museum in London that the dam would cause “significant and irreversible reduction of biological diversity”, CIDA must reassess its relations with Fortis. Fortis have agreed to withdraw from the project if the assessment shows that it will cause significant damage, and as such CIDA must take the lead in recommending that this project be terminated and so prevent environmental destruction. I look forward to your earliest possible reply.

Sincerely,

Svend Robinson, MP
Burnaby-Douglas

SJR/rw