(November 18, 1999) In 1993, the federal government greatly expanded the powers of the Export Development Corp. by allowing it to move into the private sector’s turf and finance Canadian firms’ activity in Canada. As a sop to the banking and insurance industries, which cried foul upon learning that they would soon face unfair competition from this Crown corporation, the government promised to review the new EDC legislation five years hence. That review, conducted by the law firm of Gowling Strathy & Henderson and now before the standing committee on foreign affairs and international trade, fails utterly to address EDC’s fundamental problems.
Other News Sources
Wolfensohn will lose face if he gives nod to dirty dozen
(November 17, 1999) The simple issue on the agenda at a World Bank meeting in Pretoria is corruption – specifically the padding of Katse Dam construction costs by a "dirty dozen" of multinational corporations.
The Three Gorges Project: an error in ‘democratic decision-making’
(November 16, 1999) After eleven and a half years, the construction of Three Gorges Dam located on the Yangtze River at Sandouping of Yichang City, Hubei Province was officially completed on the morning of May 20, 2006.
Crisis as Yangtze evacuees rise to 4m
China is to move 700,000 people from low-lying areas along the Yangtze River before next summer’s flood season, the official China Daily newspaper reported yesterday.
Statement to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the Review of the Export Development Act
(November 16, 1999) Patricia Adams’s Statement to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Drought worsens China water woes
(November 10, 1999) Parts of China are suffering their worst drought in over 50 years. But in the cities, demand for water is increasing as China’s economic boom continues..
In search of the new China
The Middle Kingdom has seen great advances and horrible setbacks. Where is it heading now?
PM urged to address woes of villagers: Dam projects affect Northeasterners
(November 5, 1999) The prime minister has been urged by 28 international organisations to address the plight of Northeastern villagers affected by dam projects.
Thailand’s Electricity Generating considers stake in Lao dam
(November 4, 1999) Thailand’s Electricity Generating Plc. –a privatised subsidiary of Egat– said Thursday it was considering acquiring a stake in the 1.2 billion dollar Num Thuen 2 hydro power project in Laos.
Letter from Canada’s Executive Director to the World Bank: Nam Theun 2, Lao PDR
(November 2, 1999) “Accordingly, it is clearly understood that, if the Bank is to support the Nam Theun 2 project, the latter would need to be in full compliance with the Bank’s environmental and social policies and that higher standards would need to be applied.”
Letter from Canada’s Executive Director to the World Bank: Nam Theun 2, Lao PDR
(November 2, 1999) Terry O’Leary, Executive Director to the World Bank, responds to Probe International’s October 6th letter to the World Bank regarding the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project.
Laos mess worsens, donors seek action
(November 1, 1999) With the financial sector in a precarious state and half the population living below the poverty line, donors say authorities must quickly launch strong stabilisation measures to curb inflation, stabilise the kip over the long term and restore a growing loss of local and foreign confidence in the economy and currency.
Destruction and violation: Burma’s border development policies
(November 1, 1999) The military dictatorship governing Burma is currently using the discourse of development to legitimise its domination of the border areas.
Controversial dam supported
Minister of the Economy Muller: Federal Government gives export guarantee to Siemens for the Three Gorges dam in China. Protests on account of the resettlement of two million people.
Corrupt governments receive no less foreign aid
(November 1, 1999) “Based on some measures of corruption – the more corrupt the government is, the more aid it actually receives.”
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 