Ministre de la Coop‚ration Internationale
Minister for International Cooperation
Hull, Qu6bec KlA OG4

Ms. Gr inne Ryder
Policy Director
Probe International
225 Brunswick Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2M6

Dear Ms. Ryder:

Thank you for your letter of August 28, 2001, in which you raise concerns about the Canadian International Development Agency’s (CIDA) role in the Challilo Dam project that is under consideration by the Government of Belize. I regret the delay in responding to you. First, I would like to reiterate that CIDA maintains its position, one of "helping Belize acquire the necessary environmental information it needs to make an informed decision." Your letter questions this position due to AMEC’s role and the vested interest it might have in potential downstream contracts if the project proceeds. Please understand that CIDA is neither a proponent of the dam nor an opponent. CIDA is interested in sustainable development, in this case in promoting the sustainable economic development of Belize. in providing funding to AMEC, the Agency is supporting the generation of valuable information on environmental and social aspects that can assist the Government of Belize in informed decision-making. Regarding disclosure of information, as communicated to you previously, the Final Report from AMEC was expected to be available for release by December 15, 2001. We understand that the Final Report was made available to the public in Belize without any prior notification to CIDA. CIDA received a copy of the Final Report on August 29. The Report is accessible to the general public in Canada through CIDA’s Access to Information Unit. You may contact the Unit by fax at (819) 953-3352, if you wish to obtain a copy of the Report, whereby applicable charges under the Access to Information Act will apply, or make an appointment with CIDA’s Access to Information Unit to consult the Report, free of charge. CIDA will now review the Report and should be able to complete this process by mid-October. At that time, the Agency will be able to confirm whether the Report is in conformity with the requirements of the Contribution Agreement signed between CIDA and AMEC. Your letter states that Probe International and the other non-governmental organizations that met with CIDA in May did not accept CIDA’s position with regard to the release of reports. At the meeting, CIDA indicated it would consult with AMEC in order to define a timetable for the release of reports. The Final Report has now been made publice. I thank you for your interest in this file. Yours sincerely,

Maria Minna, P.C., M.P.

c.c.: The Honourable John Manley, P.C., M.P.
Mr. Keith Martin, M.P.
Mr. Stanley Marshall